Maurie MarkmanUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USAAbstract: Both pre-clinical studies and phase 1–2 clinical trials have provided strong support for the potential role of regional drug delivery in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer, a disease process whose major manifestations remain largely localized to the peritoneal cavity in the majority of individuals with this malignancy.The results of 3 phase 3 randomized trials have revealed the favorable impact of primary cisplatin-based intraperitoneal chemotherapy in Knitwear women who initiate drug treatment with small-volume residual ovarian cancer following an attempt at optimal surgical cytoreduction.Concerns have been raised regarding the toxicity of regional treatment, particularly the side-effect profile associated with cisplatin.One rational approach to improving the tolerability of intraperitoneal chemotherapy is to substitute carboplatin for cisplatin.
This review discusses the rationale for and KNIT TOPS3/4 SLVOTHER data supporting regional treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer, and highlights the potential role for intraperitoneal carboplatin in this clinical setting.Keywords: ovarian cancer, intraperitoneal chemotherapy, cisplatin, carboplatin.