[Selecting postoperative chemotherapy regimen and optimizing therapy cycle for stage II-IV ovarian epithelial carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The postoperative chemotherapy for ovarian epithelial carcinoma need to be improved. This study was conducted to seek suitable chemotherapy for patients with stage II-IV ovarian epithelial carcinoma.

METHODS

The records of 325 patients with stage II-IV ovarian epithelial carcinoma, received different postoperative chemotherapy (HCBP, CP, CBP, or CAP) regimens for different cycles from Jan. 1986 to Dec. 2000 in our cancer center, were analyzed retrospectively. The treatment outcome and prognosis of these patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival rate of the patients received HCBP regimen was significantly higher than those of the patients received CP, CBP, or CAP regimens (84.3% vs. 43.0%, P=0.008; 46.1%, P=0.016; and 40.0%, P=0.002). The incidence of chemotherapy-related complications was significantly lower in the patients received CP regimen than in the patients received HCBP, CBP, or CAP regimens (76.0% vs. 91.3%, P=0.015; 88.2%, P=0.043; and 87.7%, P=0.038). The 5-year survival rates of the patients received more than 6 or 5-6 cycles were significantly higher than that of the patients received less than 5 cycles (56.2% or 59.5% vs. 35.1%, P< 0.001). The incidences of chemotherapy-related complications in such patients were 89.6%, 81.1%, and 82.8% (P=0.214), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend 5-6 cycles of CP-based chemotherapy regimens for stage II-IV ovarian epithelial carcinoma. Prolonging the duration of each chemotherapy cycle might achieve good prognosis.