Paclitaxel/carboplatin versus cyclophosphamide/carboplatin in peritoneal carcinomatosis of the ovary.

The preceding platinum-based combination chemotherapy could possibly reduce tumor masses, allowing for adequate surgical debulking in advanced ovarian cancer. In this study, a total of 18 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of the ovary were evaluated between 1996 and 2003. All patients underwent open biopsy for the histopathologic confirmation of ovarian tumor. Forty-one percent of the patients (8/18) were administered six cycles of carboplatin/cyclophosphamide (CP) and the rest were administered six cycles of paclitaxel/carboplatin (TP) as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy (10/18). After six cycles of chemotherapy metastases to the peritoneum, Douglas' pouch, diaphragm, and liver serosa were higher in the CP group than the TP group (p < 0.05). All patients also had a better performance status (WHO performance status 0 or 1), but no statistical difference was observed between either group (p > 0.05). Optimal debulking surgery rates were significantly higher in the TP group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, we suggest paclitaxel/carboplatin in peritoneal carcinomatosis of the ovary as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy. However, large prospective, randomized studies should be performed in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of the ovary.