The CancerWeb Report, What's New In Cancer: May, 1996
Ovarian Cancer

• Docetaxel - A study at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, examined the effects of the newly-approved taxol relative, docetaxel. Of the 55 patients with ovarian cancer who failed previous chemotherapy with platinum that were entered into the trial, twenty-two (40%) responded, 3 with complete responses, and there were 21 (38%) whose disease was stabilized. There were significant side-effects, including fluid retention, lowered white blood cell counts, loss of hair in all patients, stomach and intestinal upsets, and some neurological symptoms, to name a few. The drug has some promise in this difficult disease, but more study is needed of the control of the limiting toxicities (fluid retention and blood cell count reduction) and of the relationship to other active drugs. (Kavanagh, Clin Cancer Res 2:837, 1996)

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• CA 125 as response marker - the ovarian marker CA 125 has now become so well established that it may be used as a guide to tumor response, like PSA in prostate cancer. This study of 989 patients in the UK North Thames Ovary Trial 3 and the US Gynecology Oncology Group Protocol 97 examined clinical responses and serum CA 125 levels. Definitions based on a 50% or 75% decrease in CA 125 levels closely reflected partial clinical responses. Specifically for the US data, the CA 125 response rate was 66%, while the rate based on existing criteria was 62%. For the UK the figures were 62% and 54%. (Rustin, J Clin Oncol 14:1545, 1996)