cis-Dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) and hexamethylmelamine in advanced ovarian carcinoma: a phase II study

Thirty-eight previously treated patients with ovarian carcinoma received a combination of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) (CDDP) and hexamethylmelamine (HMM). The schedule was CDDP 75 mg/m2 i.v. with forced diuresis on day 1, followed by HMM 200 mg/m2 p.o. on days 8-21, repeated every 4 weeks. In 29 evaluable patients an overall response rate (CR + PR) of 35% with a median response duration of 4.5 months was observed. The performance status seemed to be an important prognostic factor. The gastrointestinal- and neurotoxicities were severe and resulted in dose modification and/or drug discontinuation in half of the patients. In conclusion, CDDP and HMM is an active drug combination in advanced ovarian carcinoma resistant to conventional chemotherapy. A possible superiority of this combination compared with CDDP or HMM alone has to await randomized trials.