Paclitaxel-ifosfamide-carboplatin combination chemotherapy regimen in advanced uterine and adnexal malignant mixed Mullerian tumours.

BACKGROUND: Malignant mixed Mullerian tumours (MMMTs) of the uterus and adnexa represent aggressive gynaecologic malignancies with a high rate of loco-regional and distant failure. For that reason, we evaluated the paclitaxel-ifosfamide-carboplatin (TICb) combination in patients with advanced MMMTs.

METHODS: Female patients with advanced MMMTs, WHO-PS 0-2, no prior chemotherapy for systemic disease, unimpaired haemopoietic and organ function were eligible. Chemotherapy was administered at the following doses; paclitaxel: 175 mg m(-2) on day 1, ifosfamide: 2.0 g m(-2) day(-1)--days 1 and 2, and carboplatin at a target area under the curve 5 on day 2, with prophylactic G-CSF from day 3.

RESULTS: Forty patients of a median age 61 (45-72) years, performance status 0-2 with advanced MMMTs of the uterus (n=34), tubes (n=2) or ovary (n=4) have entered and all were evaluable for response and toxicity. Responses were as follows: 27 out of 40 (67.5%) evaluable patients responded, with 11 complete responses and 16 partial responses, while 10 had stable disease, and 3 developed progressive disease. The median response duration was 9 months (range, 4-40 months), median progression-free survival 13 months (range, 3-42 months), while median overall survival 18 months (range, 4-48 months). Grade 3/4 neutropenia was recorded in 22 out of 40 (55%)--with 13 developing grade 4 (≤7 days) and 7 out of 40 (17.5%) of patients at least one episode of febrile neutropenia.

CONCLUSION: In this study, it appears that the TICb combination, yielded important activity with manageable toxicity in females with advanced MMMTs warranting further randomised comparison with current standard regimens.