The feasibility of carboplatin-based intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer

Objective: To reduce toxicities in cisplatin-based intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy, we substituted carboplatin for cisplatin. The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary toxicity data of carboplatin-based IP chemotherapy and to evaluate the feasibility of this chemotherapy regimen in patients with ovarian cancer after primary debulking surgery. Study design: The toxicity data of 19 primary ovarian cancer patients (IP group) who underwent carboplatin-based IP and intravenous (IV) combination chemotherapy (IP carboplatin AUC 5 on day 1, IV paclitaxel 175 mg/m ² on day 2, and IP paclitaxel 60 mg/m ² on day 8) after primary debulking surgery were retrospectively analyzed and compared to 34 patients (IV group) who were treated with standard platinum-based IV chemotherapy during the same period. Results: The toxicity data in a total of 118 cycles were analyzed. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia, neutropenia, and pain were more common in the IP group than the IV group. There were seven catheter-related complications. Fourteen patients (73.7%) were able to complete six cycles or more of IP chemotherapy. Survival results in the IP group were compared with those from the IV group; a prolonged progression-free survival was observed (26.6 vs. 20.7 months; p = 0.038). Compared to the previous results with cisplatin-based IP chemotherapy, there was no significant difference in hematologic events. However, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and metabolic events in this study were definitely lower compared to those of cisplatin-based IP chemotherapy. Conclusions: Carboplatin-based IP and IV combination chemotherapy is feasible in patients with ovarian carcinoma after primary debulking surgery.