Luigi Frigerio

Int J Gynecol Cancer 2006, 16 (Suppl. 3), 624–694
In coll. L. Carlini, A. Villa, L. Busci, G. Trezzi, A. Gallo, L. Frigerio
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ospedali Riuniti Bergamo -
Universita` Milano Bicocca, Bergamo, Italy
Background: Docetaxel, a semisynthetic taxane, has demonstrated
in clinical trials good response rates and, in paclitaxel-resistant
patients, has retained an important level of efficacy.
Methods: From January 2003 to November 2005, 30 heavily pretreated
patients with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary
peritoneal cancer, received DTX100 or 75mg/m2 every 3-weeks. All
patients received oral dexamethasone at 8 mg twice daily for 3 days,
starting the day before DTX. The cycles were repeated until progression
disease for a maximum of 12 course.
Results: Thirty patients were treated with a total of 162 courses. The
median age was 61years(44-78). All patients had a ECOG-performance
status of 0-2. Twenty-one patients received at least 3 chemotherapy
regimens before the enrolment. Among 29 patients
evaluable for response there were 4(14%) complete (CR) and 7(23%)
partial responses (PR) (overall response rate, ORR¼ 37%). The median
response duration was 5.6 months (range, 4-121). The predominant
WHO-toxicity grade 3-4 was neutropenia that occurred in
25(83%) of patients. The incidence of febrile neutropenia appeared to
be low 3 (10%) of patients and no treatment related toxic death was
reported. Dose reductions were required in 6 patients (20%).
Conclusions: Docetaxel-monotherapy is an effective regimen with
manageable toxicity in heavily pretreated patients with epithelial
ovarian, fallopian and primary peritoneal cancer.