Safety of PLD in the treatment of the patients with recurrent ovarian cancer – clinical experience

Abstract

Abstract Aim: The aim of the following work was to assess the efficiency and toxicity of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), used in second and subsequent lines of chemotherapy in patients treated for platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer. Material and methods: 40 women, aged from 33-73, with diagnosed recurrent ovarian cancer and treated with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in the second- and subsequent lines of chemotherapy were included into the study. While in therapy, the patients were monitored for occurrence and exacerbation of adverse effects, as well as the levels of CA-125 marker. The assessment of treatment results was done according to the SWOG criteria. Results: The most common adverse effects included: bone marrow depression, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) (25%) and stomatitis (12.5%). Among the hematological symptoms the most frequent adverse effects included: leucopenia (22.5%), anemia (17.5%) and neutropenia (15%). The highest treatment-positive response rate (CR+PR – 54.6%) and the lowest progressive disease rate (PD – 9%) was achieved in the group where PLD was used as the third-line therapy. In the group of platinum-resistant patients the treatment-positive response was significantly lower (CR+PR – 37.5%). Lowering of the CA-125 marker level was observed in 40% of the patients, with the highest proportion in the groups of platinum-sensitive and partially platinum-sensitive tumors. Increased CA-125 level was noted in 37.5% of the patients, with the highest proportion in partially platinum-sensitive tumors. Conclusions: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin used in recurrent ovarian cancer as the second and subsequent lines of therapy drug of choice has good treatment tolerance and high rates of positive treatment responses.