Phase III randomized trial of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) plus carboplatin versus carboplatin in platinum-sensitive (PS) patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian or peritoneal carcinoma after failure of initial platinum-based chemotherapy: Southwest Oncology Group Protocol S0200

Abstract

5551 Background: There is a continuing debate over the role of combination, platinum-based chemotherapy for PS, recurrent ovarian cancer (OC). Although this phase 3 trial was closed prematurely by the SWOG Data Safety and Monitoring Committee (DSMC) due to slow patient accrual, it provided provocative results nonetheless. Methods: Patients with recurrent stage III or IV OC, with a progression-free and platinum-free interval of 6- 24 months after completion of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, and up to 12 courses of non-platinum containing chemotherapy or biologic therapy as consolidation treatment after the first-line regimen were eligible and observed for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients were randomized to either IV PLD (30 mg/m2) plus IV carboplatin (AUC=5 mg/mL × min) once every 4 weeks (PLD arm) or IV carboplatin (AUC=5mg/ML × min) once every four weeks alone. Results: The PLD arm enrolled 31 patients and the carboplatin alone arm enrolled 30 for a total of 61 patients out of the 900 planned. The response rates were 67% (18/27) for the PLD arm and 32% (9/28) for the carboplatin only arm (Fisher’s exact p=0.02). The estimated median PFS on the PLD arm was 12 months and 8 months on the carboplatin only arm. The estimated median OS on the PLD arm was 26 months and 18 months on the carboplatin only arm (p=0.02). 26% of the patients on the PLD arm reported grade 4 toxicities, all hematological in nature. Conclusions: Although this study was closed early, because of slow patient accrual the results for the PLD arm are intriguing for response rates, median progression-free survival and overall survival. These data suggest that there may be an advantage to the PLD plus carboplatin combination treatment in patients with PS, recurrent disease. No significant financial relationships to disclose.