Carboplatin plus paclitaxel for advanced or recurrent uterine malignant mixed mullerian tumors. The British Columbia Cancer Agency experience

ObjectivesUterine MMMTs are aggressive malignancies that are rarely cured by purely local therapies. Effective chemotherapy is needed. The phase III proven, ifosfamide-based combinations are inconvenient and costly. Carboplatin and paclitaxel (CT) are easy to deliver and is effective against endometrial carcinoma and should be against MMMT (as they are now regarded as epithelial in nature).MethodsA review of all women with uterine MMMT treated with CT. Paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 over 3 h preceded carboplatin (AUC 5–6) every 4 weeks for 3–6 cycles ± subsequent pelvic irradiation.ResultsTwenty-eight newly diagnosed women (20 evaluable) and 12 recurrent (11 evaluable) were treated. Response rates were 60% (12 of 20, CR 5, PR 7) and 55% (6 of 11, CR 2, PR 4) with median PFS of 16 and 12 months. Dose reduction occurred in 5%, treatment delay in 10%.ConclusionsCarboplatin–paclitaxel is effective against uterine MMMT, with similar efficacy to ifosfamide combinations. It is more convenient, less costly and easy to deliver.