[Cytostatic treatment of ovarian carcinoma]

Shortly after treatment with the cytostatic combination of cisplatin and paclitaxel was generally accepted as the standard therapy for patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma, many have come to regard the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel as a better choice. The latter combination causes fewer side effects and may be used in the outpatient clinic. Conceivably, the carboplatin-paclitaxel scheme will shortly have to be adjusted again owing to results of current research. The intensive basic research of recent years, namely, is beginning to yield benefits for the therapeutic arsenal against ovarian carcinoma. Possibilities are inhibitors of the breakdown of extracellular matrix (such as marimastat) and inhibitors of signal transduction (such as trastuzumab).