[Increase in CDDP therapeutic index by lower concentration and longer infusion time--home chemotherapy for ovarian cancer].

Twenty-two patients with ovarian cancer stage III and IV received combination chemotherapy with CDDP, adriamycin (ADM) and cyclophosphamide (CPM), and were studied for response and side-effects. Patients were divided into two groups according to the following CDDP infusion schedules. (CAP 1) CDDP 7mg/sqm/8 hrs/saline 500 ml/d1-d10, ADM 35 mg/sqm/d1, CPM 350 mg/sqm/d1: 8 cases; (CAP 2) CDDP 70 mg/sqm/2 hrs/d1, ADM 35 mg/sqm/d1, CPM 350 mg/sqm/d1: 14 cases. The overall response rate (CR + PR) was 62.5% in CAP 1, and 50% in CAP 2 (on statistical difference: NS). The 3-year survival rate was 54.7% in CAP 1 and 38.5% in CAP 2 (NS). Side effects of nausea, vomiting and nephrotoxicities were remarkably reduced in CAP 1. These data suggest that lower concentration and longer infusion time of CDDP administration increases the therapeutic index. This infusion schedule is suitable for chemotherapy at home or on an outpatient clinic basis, especially in patients with ovarian cancer.