Salvage chemotherapy with a combination of irinotecan hydrochloride and mitomycin C in platinum- and paclitaxel-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer: case reports

Introduction: The efficacy and toxicity of salvage chemotherapy with a combination of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) and mitomycin C (MMC) for platinum-and paclitaxel-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer are reported. Case Report: Three consecutive patients with platinum- and paclitaxel- resistant epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with 120 mg/m(2) of CPT-11 (days 1 and 15) and 7 mg/m(2) Of MMC (days 1 and 15) every four weeks. In all three cases partial responses were achieved and overall survivals were 17 months or longer. Most of the adverse side-effects were manageable. Conclusions: This regimen could be administered even in heavily pretreated patients with platinum- and paclitaxel- resistance. Phase I and II studies are needed to confirm the feasibility of this treatment. The efficacy of most salvage treatments for platinum-and paclitaxel-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer is disappointing, and our cases might be of interest from the perspective of treating platinum- and paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer.