Carboplatin in the first-line chemotherapy of ovarian cancer

When used as first-line treatment for advanced ovarian cancer in phase III trials, single-agent carboplatin has produced clinical complete response rates comparable with or exceeding those of single-agent cisplatin. Phase I/II trials of combination chemotherapy have yielded overall objective response rates of 44% to 75% when carboplatin was combined with either cyclophosphamide or chlorambucil. In randomized phase III trials of carboplatin combination chemotherapy, response rates similar to those of cisplatin combinations have been achieved but with greatly reduced toxicities. The data from these phase I, II, and III trials show that carboplatin is as active as cisplatin in patients with advanced ovarian cancer and is associated with a significantly lower incidence and is associated with a significantly lower incidence of emesis, ototoxicity, peripheral neuropathy, and renal dysfunction. Thus, carboplatin should be considered the platinum compound of choice in the firstline treatment of advanced ovarian cancer.