[Intra-arterial chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer. 1. Study conditions and prognostic factors]

The significance of intra-arterial chemotherapy in connection with progressive ovarial carcinomas was investigated within a prospective-randomized study. The patients were selected according to strict precaution in consideration of the factors of prognosis. After operative staging 43 patients got an intra-arterial infusion of MTX and 5-FU, later systematically CMFV (therapy arm A). 42 women were only systematically treated with the CMFV combination (therapy arm B). The histological grading proved as most important feature for the judgement of the malignant power of the tumors. A reliable correlation was found between stage, typing and grading of the tumor which is significant for the individual planning of therapy. A significant improvement of the results of survival could be achieved by intra-arterial therapy in a comparable initial state in both particular groups. This comes close to DDP containing combined schedules. Thus second-line drugs were available during repeated tumor progredience.