Advanced ovarian carcinoma. Factors influencing survival.

One hundred ten patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma (Stages IIIA, IIIB, and IV) were evaluated for survival. They received as first treatment one of the following regimens: melphalan (L-PAM) (41 patients), cyclophosphamide plus methotrexate plus 5-fluorouracil (CMF) (16 patients), cyclophosphamide plus doxorubicin plus 5-fluorouracil (CAF) (17 patients), cyclophosphamide plus doxorubicin plus hexamethylmelamine plus cisplatin (CHAD) (13 patients, thiotepa plus methotrexate (TM) with fixed rotation with CAF (TM/CAF) (17 patients), and 6 patients received other chemotherapy as first treatment. There was no significant difference in survival time with the various treatment arms despite differences in response rates. Patients with Stage IIIA had significantly longer survival than those with Stages IIIB and IV (P less than 0.01). Patients with good performance status (PS 0) had significantly better survival than those with poor performance status (PS 3-4) (P less than 0.02). At this time the improved response rates on combination chemotherapy has not given improved survival rates, and disease stage and performance status remain of prime importance in survival prediction.