Increasing the chances for platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients

Ovarian carcinoma is still one of the most common causes of death from cancer in the western world. Despite high sensitivity to chemotherapy, the majority of patients will relapse within 3 years. In this article the focus is centered on patients who have a late relapse (>12 months). Carboplatin-based regimens are the backbone of treatment for this group, producing clinical benefit with higher rates for progression-free and overall survival. However, not all patients can continue with platinum owing to loss of activity or toxicity (hypersensitivity, neurotoxicity and ototoxicity). In particular, hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin are a concern and have been reported in approximately 15-20% of women receiving the drug. When expectations for a positive outcome with carboplatin are good, desensitization protocols may be useful so as to continue treatment. If platinum-based regimens are not possible then alternative forms of treatment are required; additional research efforts are being directed towards the development of nonplatinum-based therapies. Promising results have been obtained with the combination of trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, providing encouragement that it will be a viable option for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who cannot be treated with a platinum-based chemotherapeutic option.