Prospective feasibility study of neoadjuvant dose-dense paclitaxel plus carboplatin with bevacizumab therapy followed by interval debulking surgery for advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the clinical benefit of dose-dense paclitaxel plus carboplatin (TC) with bevacizumab therapy for advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer patients in the neoadjuvant setting.

METHODS

Ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer patients with stage III-IV disease received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) every 3 weeks consisting of paclitaxel (80 mg/m) on days 1, 8, and 15; carboplatin (AUC 6.0 mg/mL × min.) on day 1; and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) on day 1. Interval debulking surgery (IDS) was performed after 3 cycles of dose-dense TC-bevacizumab therapy. The primary endpoint was the rate of complete resection by IDS. Secondary endpoints were treatment completion rate, treatment exposure, response rate to NAC, adverse events, and perioperative complications.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients were included in this study. The median age was 55.5 years (37-80 years), and most patients had high-grade serous carcinoma accounted (n = 18). IDS was performed in all patients with complete resection achieved in 75% (95% confidence interval: 57.7-92.3%). The lower limit exceeded the preset threshold rate of 55%. The response rate to NAC was 79%, and serum CA125 levels were in the normal range after NAC in 57% of patients. Grade 4 hematological toxicities and grade 3/4 non-hematological toxicities occurred in 29% and 17% of patients during NAC, respectively. Grade 3/4 perioperative complications were seen in 29% of patients, but no gastrointestinal perforations or treatment-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Neoadjuvant dose-dense TC-bevacizumab therapy was well tolerated, and a satisfactory rate of complete resection by IDS was achieved.