Trabectedin in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in patients with ovarian tumors

• Published in: Molecular and clinical oncology 2018-12, Vol.9 (6), p.635-639
• Main Authors: Villanucci, Alessandro, Tavella, Ketty, Vannini, Laura, Rossi, Virginia, Nobili, Stefania, Amunni, Gianni, Mazzei, Teresita, Mini, Enrico
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthracyclines; Antineoplastic agents; Cancer patients; Cancer research; Cancer therapies; Carcinoma; Cell cycle; Chemotherapy; Combination chemotherapy; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Development and progression; DNA; Dosage and administration; Doxorubicin; Drug therapy; Endometrial cancer; Medical prognosis; Methods; Neutropenia; Novels; Oncology; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian tumors; Patient outcomes; Patients; Phosphatase; Recurrence (Disease); Response rates; Toxicity; Trabectedin; Tumors
• ISSN: 2049-9450; 2049-9469
• DOI: 10.3892/mco.2018.1729

The majority of patients with ovarian cancer will experience relapse and thus require second-line therapy. While platinum-based therapies are the primary treatments for refractory disease other options are required, particularly for those with partially platinum-sensitive disease as their response rates are lower. Agents that can resensitize relapsed ovarian cancers to platinum, including trabectedin, are therefore of increasing interest. Trabectedin is a multitarget agent that has a complex, novel mechanism of action and has exhibited promising results in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer when in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD). The present study conducted retrospective analysis involving 11 cases (median age 60 years; range 45-75 years) of recurrent ovarian tumors and partial platinum sensitivity undergoing treatment with trabectedin + PLD. The cohort consisted of 7 serous carcinomas, 1 endometrial carcinoma, 2 undifferentiated carcinomas, and 1 mucinous carcinoma. Of the 11 patients, 4 exhibited a complete response, 3 achieved stable disease, and 4 had progression of disease. Mean overall survival was 32.42 months and median progression-free survival was 5.9 months. Trabectedin in combination with PLD was well tolerated in terms of gastrointestinal and hematological toxicity; Grade 3 cutaneous toxicity and grade 3 neutropenia were each observed in 18.2% of patients. There were no grade 4 events. Thus, the present study supports the use of trabectedin + PLD in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer and partial platinum sensitivity, with predictable and manageable toxicity.