High dose cisplatin compared with high dose cyclophosphamide in the management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (FIGO stages III and IV): report from the North Thames Cooperative Group.

A randomised study comparing cisplatin 120 mg intravenously with cyclophosphamide 2 g intravenously, each drug being given every month for six months followed by a low dose regimen for a further six months in responding patients, was carried out in 86 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (FIGO stages III and IV). Patients given cisplatin were found to have a longer median survival time than those given cyclophosphamide (19 months compared with 12 months) and a longer median duration of complete clinical response (18 months compared with eight months). The difference in disease free survival was statistically significant even after factors such as age, stage of disease, and the completeness of initial surgery had been taken into account. This study suggests that cisplatin is a more effective chemotherapeutic agent than cyclophosphamide for advanced ovarian cancer and should be the agent of choice in future trials comparing combination chemotherapy with a single agent.