Sequential chemotherapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: platinum combination cytoreduction followed by...

Thirty-six women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with a combination of cisplatin, vinblastine and bleomycin followed by a consolidation regimen of intravenous cyclophosphamide. There was a 53% response rate in previously untreated patients with 25% complete clinical remissions. Sixteen per cent of previously untreated patients remain in a complete clinical remission of greater than 3 yr duration. In a multivariate analysis bulk tumor residuum was not a significant adverse factor in terms of survival, suggesting that intensive chemical cytoreduction followed by non-cross-resistant consolidation may overcome such prognostic variables.