Feasibility study of oral cyclophosphamide salvage therapy for the treatment of heavily pretreated patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

摘要

BACKGROUND: In patients with relapsed ovarian cancer, the objectives of salvage therapy are considered to be maintenance of quality of life and prolongation of patient survival. Chemotherapy using oral agents could be a good choice for salvage therapy. We reassessed the usefulness of oral cyclophosphamide (CPA) salvage therapy for heavily pretreated patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: We evaluated the effects and toxicities of 100 mg oral dose (50 mg twice a day) of CPA for 14 patients who had undergone an average of 3 chemotherapy treatments before enrolling in our study. RESULTS: One patient showed partial response and 8 developed stable diseases. Median time to progression was 3 months (range 1-13 months) and median survival was 7 months (range 2-28 months). Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 3/4 adverse effects were leukopenia (7.1%), neutropenia (14.3%), thrombocytopenia (7.1%), and nausea/vomiting (21.4%). CONCLUSION: Although moderate gastrointestinal toxicity was observed, oral CPA therapy contributed to improving the survival of heavily pretreated patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. A well-designed phase II trial in this regard is awaited.