Paclitaxel as a first line chemotherapy agent in the treatment of ovarian cancer

Best L
Record ID 31998008874
English
Authors' objectives:

At present in the UK, paclitaxel is licensed only for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and recurrent breast cancer. The licence for 1st line ovarian cancer is likely to be granted in 1996. This report considers the use of paclitaxel as a 1st line chemotherapeutic agent.

Authors' results and conclusions: In the RCT which examined paclitaxel-cisplatin, out of the sample of 100, 51 patients showed a complete clinical response and 73 showed a complete or partial clinical response. This was more than in any of the other studies. Median survival was found to be 38 months, compared with results from the other studies of 20 months with single agent carboplatin and 24 months with CAP.
Authors' recommendations: Paclitaxel-cisplatin appears to be the most effective, but also the least cost-effective, of the three agents. However the evidence on which this report is based is poor. The phase III RCTs currently being performed may provide substantial comparative evidence on paclitaxel, carboplatin and CAP as 1st line chemotherapy agents. For the moment, therefore, paclitaxel-cisplatin is recommended, along with other treatments CAP and carboplatin, but in view of the uncertainty of how it fits in with total treatments and the fact that trials are still underway it should be reviewed in 12-18 months.
Authors' methods: Review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.wihrd.soton.ac.uk
Year Published: 1996
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England
MeSH Terms
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Paclitaxel
  • Ovarian Neoplasms
Contact
Organisation Name: Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development
Contact Address: Pauline King. Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development, Boldrewood Medical School, Bassett Crescent East, Highfield, Southampton. SO16 7PX Tel. +44 1703 595661 Fax +44 1703 595662
Copyright: Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development (WIHRD)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.