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A case of drug resistant clear cell ovarian cancer showing responsiveness to gemcitabine at first administration and at re-challenge

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Abstract

Introduction

Gemcitabine (2′,2′-difluorodeoxycytidine) (GEM) has been demonstrated to be active in the salvage setting of ovarian cancer (OC) patients.

Case report

A 57-year-old woman, with a diagnosis of FIGO Stage IIIC clear cell OC, judged inoperable to optimal residual tumor, was administered neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin/paclitaxel/topotecan, and cytoreduction. After 5 months the patient progressed, and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin was started with rapid progression. GEM (1,000 mg/m2, d1,8,15, q28) was then started, and a complete clinical response was documented after seven cycles of treatment, and was maintained for 9 months; at progression fourth line carboplatin was attempted but 1 month after the last course of carboplatin, progression occurred, and the patient was re-challenged with GEM obtaining a partial response, of 6 months duration. Currently, the patient is still under treatment, without any complaints relative to her quality of life/specific symptoms.

Conclusion

We described the case of a drug resistant clear cell ovarian cancer showing a selective susceptibility only to GEM at first administration and at re-challenge. Moreover, this case expressed a molecular profile very likely to support high tumour cell sensitivity to GEM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Gabriella Ferrandina, Francesco Legge, Marco Petrillo & Giacomo Corrado

  2. Department of Oncology, Catholic University, Contrada Tappino, Campobasso, Italy

    Gabriella Ferrandina, Francesco Legge & Giovanni Scambia

  3. Division of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Valentina Mey, Sara Nannizzi & Simona Ricciardi

Authors
  1. Gabriella Ferrandina
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  2. Francesco Legge
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  3. Valentina Mey
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  4. Sara Nannizzi
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  5. Simona Ricciardi
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  6. Marco Petrillo
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  7. Giacomo Corrado
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  8. Giovanni Scambia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriella Ferrandina.

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Ferrandina, G., Legge, F., Mey, V. et al. A case of drug resistant clear cell ovarian cancer showing responsiveness to gemcitabine at first administration and at re-challenge. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 60, 459–461 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-007-0479-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-007-0479-7

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