High-dose cisplatin in hypertonic saline in refractory ovarian cancer

Nineteen previously treated refractory ovarian cancer patients, including 17 who had received standard-dose cisplatin regimens, were treated in a phase II trial with high-dose cisplatin (40 mg/m2 daily for five days with cycles administered every 28 to 35 days). Objective responses were achieved in 6/19 (32%) patients while eight patients had minor responses or stable disease. The median duration of survival from the start of salvage chemotherapy was 12 months for all patients, and 16 months for responding patients. The dose-limiting toxicity was peripheral neuropathy with 37% of patients having severe paresthesias or ataxia. These results indicate that the dose of cisplatin may be an important factor in improving survival in ovarian cancer patients.