Experience in the treatment of epithelial ovarian carcinoma with cisplatinum-containing combination chemotherapy and dose intensity calculation

Twenty six patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma, were treated by cisplatinum-containing combination chemotherapy following initial laparotomy. The mean number of treatment cycles was 7.8 (median: 9). The mean dose intensity (DI) and mean relative dose intensity (RDI) respectively were for cyclophosphamide: 108 mg/m²/week and 0.65, for doxorubicin: 8.6 mg/m²/week and 0.51, and for cisplatinum: 9.8 mg/m²/week and 0.59. The mean average relative dose intensity (ARDI) was 0.53. The three-year survival for all patients was 43%. No statistically significant difference in the three-year survival between patients receiving RDI's and ARDI of less than median dose and those receiving RDI's and ARDI of more than median dose could be demonstrated. Larger series are needed to test whether, and to what extent, dose intensity contributes to outcome, independently of the total amount of drug given.