An outpatient intraperitoneal chemotherapy regimen for advanced ovarian cancer

To assess the feasibility, associated toxicities, and reasons for early cessation of an outpatient intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy regimen for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer following optimal cytoreductive surgery.

Between January 2006 and December 2007, 42 patients with stages IIC-IV epithelial ovarian, tubal, or primary peritoneal cancer who had residual disease <1 cm after cytoreductive surgery were treated with an outpatient IP chemotherapy protocol. Patients received intravenous (IV) docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) and IP cisplatin 75-100 mg/m(2) on day 1, followed by IP paclitaxel 60 mg/m(2) on day 8, with the intent to treat patients every 21 days for 6 cycles of chemotherapy. Charts were abstracted for demographic, chemotherapy, and toxicity-related data.

The median age of the 42 patients was 59 years (range 33-70) and the majority of patients had epithelial ovarian cancer (80%), FIGO stage IIIC (83%), and papillary serous histology (74%). Of an intended 252 IP chemotherapy cycles, 172 (68%) were administered. Twenty-nine patients (69%) completed >or=4 cycles and 12 (29%) received all 6 IP cycles. Common grade 3/4 toxicities by patient included neutropenia (43%), infection (21.5%), and gastrointestinal effects (14%). There was one treatment-related death. Reasons for discontinuation were largely chemotherapy (43%) or port (37%) related.

With supportive measures, such as scheduled hydration and granulocyte colony-stimulating factors, outpatient administration of IP chemotherapy was feasible. This regimen resulted in few hospitalizations or treatment delays and demonstrated less toxicity than previously reported IP chemotherapy regimens. Port-related complications were a leading cause of IP chemotherapy discontinuation.