Trabectedin as single agent in the salvage treatment of heavily treated ovarian cancer patients: A retrospective, multicenter study

•Trabectedin provided 27.5% objective response, and 61.2% clinical benefit in recurrent ovarian cancer patients.•Trabectedin was more effective in platinum sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients.•Trabectedin shows acceptable toxicity in heavily treated recurrent ovarian cancer patients.

ObjectiveThe aim of this multicenter, retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of single agent Trabectedin (ET-743, Yondelis®) in very heavily treated, relapsed ovarian cancer (ROC) patients.Patients and methodsResponse to treatment was classified according to RECIST criteria. Progression-free (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were also assessed.Results98 patients were analyzed (originally 67 platinum sensitive, and 31 platinum refractory/resistant). Median number of previous regimens was 4 (range: 1-6). In the whole population, overall response rate (ORR) was 27.5%; stable disease (SD) was observed in 33 patients (33.6%), and clinical benefit was achieved in 60 cases (61.2%). ORR was 38.6% in fully platinum sensitive population, and 26.1% in partially platinum sensitive patients. In platinum refractory/resistant disease, ORR was 12.9%. Overall, median PFS and OS were 5, and 13 months, respectively. Patients responding to Trabectedin showed a more favorable PFS (median = 9 months) than patients with SD (median = 6 months), or progression (median = 2 months). Median OS of responding patients was 18 months compared to 14 months in SD patients, and 9 months in progressing patients. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in 17 (17.3%) patients. Transient and non-cumulative Grade 3-4 AST and ALT level elevation was found in 7 (7.1%), and 13 (13.3%) cases, respectively. There was 1 case of Grade 3, and 1 case of Grade 4 cardiac toxicity.ConclusionsTrabectedin, as a single agent, retains its efficacy in terms of rate of ORR and clinical benefit in heavily treated ROC patients, especially in the group of platinum sensitive disease.