[Significance and effects of intraperitoneal cisplatin administration for ovarian cancer]

We studied the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy in which a high-dose platinum agent was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) plus intravenously (i.v.) to 22 patients with stage III ovarian cancer. The chemotherapy consisted of etoposide (i.p.), cisplatin (i.p.), and carboplatin (i.v.). Each course was repeated every 4 weeks and a maximum of 5 courses was given in the 6 months following the initial surgery. As a control, 13 patients received different chemotherapy (CAP etc.) in which cisplatin, cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin pirarubicin hydrochloride were administered. The mean (SD) total dose of cisplatin in the patient group group (790.6 +/- 317.0 mg/m2) over the 6 months was significantly higher than in the control group (377.2 +/- 215.1 mg/m2). The overall response rate (CR + PR) 6 months after the completion (95.5%) was significantly higher in the study patients than in the control group (53.1%). The 1, 3, 5-year survival rates were significantly higher in the EPJ group (91.0, 59.0, 42.1%) than in the control group (53.8, 15.4, 15.4%). There was no significant difference in renal toxicity or bone marrow suppression (leukopenia and thrombocytopenia) between the two groups. EPJ therapy allowed an increased dose of cisplatin in the treatment of ovarian cancer without enhancing renal toxicity, resulting in higher response and survival rates. This study demonstrated that this therapy is an effective and well-tolerated regimen.