Prolonged Disease-Free and Treatment-Free Survival in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Following Extended (> 1 Year) Administration of Single-Agent Paclitaxel: A Case Report and Discussion of Potential Clinical Implications

Abstract

Background: The optimal duration of therapy for women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who respond to second-line treatment programs remains undefined. Case report: A patient with well-documented platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who responded to single-agent paclitaxel (175 mg/m² over 3 hours q 28–35 days) was continued on this program for a total of 15 cycles delivered over a period of 16 months. The patient has subsequently remained without evidence of disease recurrence > 7 years following discontinuation of this treatment regimen. Conclusion: The prolonged administration of paclitaxel, a highly cycle-specific cytotoxic agent, is a rational management option in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who exhibit evidence of a response to therapy and who do not experience excessive treatment-associated toxicity (e.g., grade 2–3 peripheral neuropathy).