A phase II trial of capecitabine in heavily pre-treated platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the activity of capecitabine in women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

METHODS

In this multi-centre phase II trial, 35 patients with platinum-resistant ovarian, primary peritoneal or fallopian tube carcinomas were treated with capecitabine 1250 mg/m(2) twice daily for 14 days every 21 days. Platinum resistance was defined as progression within 4 months of completing the last platinum and all patients had previously received a taxane. Response was assessed by both RECIST criteria for patients with measurable disease and CA125 criteria. Responders were defined as patients with measurable disease who achieved a CR or PR according to RECIST criteria, patients without measurable disease who met the CA125 criteria for response and patients with stable measurable disease who met the CA125 criteria for response.

RESULTS

Patients had received a median of four prior chemotherapy regimens (range 1-9). The median number of cycles of capecitabine administered was 3 (range 1-10). The response rate using the combined RECIST and CA125 criteria was 9% (95% CI 2-25%). In patients evaluable using RECIST criteria, the response rate was 5% (95% CI 0-25%). In patients evaluable for CA125 response, the response rate was 7% (95% CI 1-22%). The median progression-free survival was 2.3 months, and the median survival was 7.1 months. Treatment was generally well tolerated with most frequent grade 3 toxicities being hand-foot syndrome (17%) and diarrhea (9%).

CONCLUSION

Capecitabine is well tolerated but has limited activity in patients with heavily pre-treated platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.