Limitations to the use of carboplatin-based therapy in advanced ovarian cancer

Most patients with recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC) undergo a series of remissions and recurrences, therefore the additive or cumulative toxicity of chemotherapy must be factored into their treatment plan. There are challenges in defining tailored therapeutic approaches, including optimal timing and drug sequencing management strategies to treat patients with ROC. This is particularly relevant as new cytotoxic drugs and biological agents become available. Many of these drugs are associated with increased toxicity and with no observable survival advantage. Therefore current treatment options for the heavily-pretreated relapsing OC patient population are frequently guided by safety considerations and convenience. Rechallenge with platinum-based combination regimes is commonly limited by the risk of cumulative long-term toxicities. Not all patients can continue with platinum at second-line or, indeed, further relapses due to loss of activity or toxicity-related issues including hypersensitivity, neurotoxicity, alopecia and ototoxicity. In particular, hypersensitivity reactions are a concern and have been reported in approximately 15-20% of women receiving the drug. Trabectedin + PLD is a non-platinum combination that is well tolerated, with a manageable safety profile, which is independent of age.