A multicenter phase II study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and oxaliplatin in recurrent ovarian cancer

ObjectivePegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) and oxaliplatin (LOHP) are active as single agents in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC). This phase II study investigated the safety and activity of PLD and LOHP used in combination to treat ROC.MethodsEligibility criteria included disease recurrence after one (45%) or more lines (55%) of chemotherapy, performance status ≤ 2 and life expectancy > 3 months. Treatment was 40 mg/m2 PLD and 120 mg/m2 LOHP, administered over 2 days, every 3 weeks. Response to therapy was assessed using the RECIST criteria.ResultsForty patients with ROC enrolled in the study from 10/2001 to 10/2005; 27 patients were platinum-sensitive and 13 were platinum-resistant. Major toxicities included grade 3–4 neutropenia (37%) and grade 2 palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (10%). The overall response rate was 67.5%, with 30% stable disease rate and 2.5% progressive disease rate. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.6 months, while median overall survival was 18.3 months, with no statistically significant difference in PFS between platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive patients.ConclusionWe conclude that the combination of PLD and LOHP shows activity in ROC with a manageable toxicity profile and can be safely administered in heavily pre-treated patients.