Carboplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide as second-line treatment for ovarian cancer

A total of 25 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with second-line carboplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide (ICE) following failure of first-line cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. The combination carboplatin 35 mg/m2, etoposide 50 mg/m2, and ifosfamide 1,200 mg/m2 was administered intravenously daily for 3 consecutive days. Response was seen in 13 patients (52%) with 7 complete responses (28%) and 6 partial responses (24%). Median duration of response was 9+ months (range: 4-17+ months). Response rate to second-line ICE relates directly to prior response to first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy: 12 patients (67%) responded to second-line ICE who responded to first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy, while only 1 patient (14%) responded who progressed on first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Median survival was 18+ months (range: 2-31+ months). There were six episodes (4%) of grade 4 neutropenia, seven episodes (4%) of grade 4 thrombocytopenia and no grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicity. ICE has moderate activity with minimal toxicity as second-line treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.