Is combination chemotherapy superior to single-agent chemotherapy in second-line treatment?

Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2003 Nov-Dec:13 Suppl 2:185-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1438.2003.13361.x.

Abstract

Treatment of relapsed ovarian carcinoma is still a matter of controversy. One important question to be solved is the potential superiority of combination chemotherapy over single-agent chemotherapy. This is a field in which a nonconclusive small number of randomized clinical trials have been conducted, and therefore, definitive conclusions are lacking. Patients with recurrent platinum-resistant disease are better treated with sequential single agent, because of higher toxicity without clear benefit usually associated with combination chemotherapy. In patients with platinum-sensitive disease, we can choose between three options: single-agent carboplatin, single-agent new drug or platinum combination-based therapy. In this paper, we will review these options and recently closed or ongoing randomized clinical trials in this setting.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / mortality
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic