Results of the Gynecologic Oncology Group trials on ovarian cancer: preliminary report.

Preliminary results of three prospective controlled ongoing Gynecologic Oncology Group studies in ovarian carcinoma are discussed. The first study involves "Postoperative Treatment of Women With Resectable Ovarian Cancer With Radiotherapy, Melphalan, or No Further Treatment" (77 evaluable patients). Although there is a trend favoring chemotherapy, the differences as yet are not statistically significant. The second protocol evaluates "Postoperative Treatment of Women With Stage III Ovarian Cancer by Radiotherapy or Melphalan, Either Alone or in Both Sequences" (141 evaluable patients). The progression-free interval is shorter with either therapeutic modality alone and longer with the two combinations of radiation and chemotherapy. The third protocol deals with "Treatment of Women With Disseminated or Recurrent Advanced Ovarian Cancer With Melphalan Alone, in Combination With 5-FU, in Combination with 5-FU and Dactinomycin, or in Combination with Cytoxan, 5-FU, and Dactinomycin" (200 evaluable patients). In terms of progression-free interval, the study favors combination chemotherapy.