Lack of effect from mitomycin c plus 5-fluorouracil in platin-resistant ovarian cancer: a phase II study

Sixteen patients with advanced ovarian cancer were included in a phase II study with mitomycin c (MMC) plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). All patients had previously received platin-based combination therapy, but were resistant to this treatment. A MMC 10 mg m-2 intravenous (iv) bolus was given on day 1 every 6 weeks, and 5-FU 1000 mg m-2 was given iv on days 1-3 every 3 weeks, as a continuous infusion over 72 h. Fifteen patients were evaluable for response. There were no responders, neither partial nor complete. The median survival was 6 months. The toxicity was primarily bone marrow suppression. The treatment was generally well tolerated. No patients had grade 4 toxicity and only five had grade 3 hematologic toxicity. In conclusion, we find the present regimen to be ineffective in the treatment of platin-resistant ovarian cancer.