Background: To determine the feasibility of two chemotherapy regimens in elderly patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma (AOC).
Patients and methods: Eighty-three patients >or=70 years were previously enrolled in a trial evaluating carboplatin and cyclophosphamide (CC). On the basis of identical eligibility criteria, 75 further patients were enrolled in a trial evaluating carboplatin and paclitaxel (Taxol) (CP). The primary end point of these studies was the feasibility of six courses of chemotherapy. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) parameters were assessed in terms of prognostic factors.
Results: More patients in the CC group presented with performance status of two or more, depression symptoms, use of co-medications, hypoalbuminemia, abnormal Mini-Mental Status score, or sub-optimal surgery. Both regimens appeared feasible: 75.6% in the CC group and 68.1% in the CP group completed six courses. CC and CP groups had similar overall survival (OS). Independent prognostic factors of poorer OS were the following: increasing age (P = 0.013), depression symptoms at baseline (P < 0.001), International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IV (P = 0.001), and use of paclitaxel (P = 0.025).
Conclusion: As this is a non-randomised retrospective review of two consecutive studies, no firm conclusion can be drawn. It seems, however, that in elderly patients with AOC the use of paclitaxel results in more toxicity. CGA parameters and particularly emotional disorders might help to determine a priori the risk/benefit ratio of chemotherapy in this patient population.