[Combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin (TC therapy) for endometrial cancer]

Standard chemotherapy for endometrial cancer, including therapy with adriamycin and cisplatin (AP therapy), has not been established. However, recently, many studies have reported the efficacy of taxanes. We retrospectively investigated 46 patients with endometrial cancer who were diagnosed and treated in our hospital. As a rule, 6 courses of TC therapy (paclitaxel (PTX): 180 mg/m2, carboplatin (CBDCA): AUC 5), as initial chemotherapy, were performed at 3-week intervals in 18 patients with advanced or recurrent cancer from whom informed consent was obtained. In endometrioid adenocarcinoma patients, the response rate was 66.6%. A complete response for celomic fluid was achieved in 1 patient (1/1). Overall, the response rate was 50.0%. Adverse reactions such as digestive symptoms, alopecia, and peripheral neuropathy were observed in all patients. Concerning Grade 3 or higher blood toxicity, thrombopenia was noted in 1 patient. There was no hypersensitivity. Two patients with a partial response (PR) (1 with endometrioid adenocarcinoma, 1 with serous adenocarcinoma) achieved a disease-free survival of more than 30 months. Relapse was detected in 1 patient with a stage I c G3 lesion (response period: 20 months). Thus, TC therapy may be effective for endometrial cancer. However, in the future, the long-term outcome should be further investigated.