Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Maintenance Chemotherapy: An Evolving and Increasingly Acceptable Strategy in Cancer Management

  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Individual randomized phase 3 trials and meta-analyses of previously published studies have provided support for the general concept of the clinical utility of extending the duration of antineoplastic drug therapy in an effort to prolong (“maintain”) a favorable clinical state. This commentary briefly reviews data from several of these reports.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Maughan TS, James RD, Kerr DJ, et al.: Comparison of intermittent and continuous palliative chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer: a multicentre randomised trial. Lancet 2003, 361:457–464.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hall GD, Brown JM, Coleman RE, et al.: Maintenance treatment with interferon for advanced ovarian cancer: results of the Northern and Yorkshire gynaecology group randomised phase III study. Br J Cancer 2004, 91:621–626.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Varia MA, Stehman FB, Bundy BN, et al.: Intraperitoneal radioactive phosphorus (32P) versus observation after negative second-look laparotomy for stage III ovarian carcinoma: a randomized trial of the Gynecologic Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol 2003, 21:2849–2855.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bolis G, Danese S, Tateo S, et al.: Epidoxorubicin versus no treatment as consolidation therapy in advanced ovarian cancer: results from a phase II study. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2006, 16(Suppl 1):74–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Pfisterer J, Weber B, Reuss A, et al.: Randomized phase III trial of topotecan following carboplatin and paclitaxel in first-line treatment of advanced ovarian cancer: A Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup trial of the AGO-OVAR and GINECO. J Natl Cancer Inst 2006, 98:1036–1045.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Greene MH, Boice JD Jr, Greer BE, et al.: Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia after therapy with alkylating agents for ovarian cancer: a study of five randomized clinical trials. N Engl J Med 1982, 307:1416–1421.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Travis LB, Curtis RE, Boice JD Jr, et al.: Second malignant neoplasms among long-term survivors of ovarian cancer. Cancer Res 1996, 56:1564–1570.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Travis LB, Holowaty EJ, Bergfeldt K, et al.: Risk of leukemia after platinum-based chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. N Engl J Med 1999, 340:351–357.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Owonikoko TK, Ramalingam SS, Belani CP: Maintenance therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: current status, controversies, and emerging consensus. Clin Cancer Res 2010, 16:2496–2504.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cappuzzo F, Ciuleanu T, Stelmakh L, et al.: Erlotinib as maintenance treatment in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: A multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Lancet Oncol 2010, 11:521–529.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ciuleanu T, Brodowicz T, Zielinski C, et al.: Maintenance pemetrexed plus best supportive care versus placebo plus best supportive care for non-small-cell lung cancer: a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 study. Lancet 2009, 374:1432–1440.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Muss HB, Case LD, Richards F, et al.: Interrupted versus continuous chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. N Engl J Med 1991, 325:1342–1348.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Markman M, Liu PY, Wilczynski S, et al.: Phase III randomized trial of 12 versus 3 months of maintenance paclitaxel in patients with advanced ovarian cancer after complete response to platinum and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy: a Southwest Oncology Group and Gynecologic Oncology Group trial. J Clin Oncol 2003, 21:2460–2465.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Markman M, Liu PY, Moon J, et al.: Impact on survival of 12 versus 3 monthly cycles of paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) administered to patients with advanced ovarian cancer who attained a complete response to primary platinum-paclitaxel: follow-up of a Southwest Oncology Group and Gynecologic Oncology Group phase 3 trial. Gynecol Oncol 2009, 114:195–198.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Burger RA, Brady MF, Bookman MA, et al.: Phase III trial of bevacizumab in the primary treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancer or fallopian tube cancer: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study. J Clin Oncol 2010, 28(Suppl):LBA1.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Bozcuk H, Artac M, Ozdogan M, Savas B: Does maintenance/consolidation chemotherapy have a role in the management of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)? A metaanalysis of the published controlled trials. Cancer 2005, 104:2650–2657.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Soon YU, Stockler MR, Askie LM, et al.: Duration of chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: A systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. J Clin Oncol 2009, 27:3277–3283.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Miller KD, Sweeney CJ, Sledge GW Jr: Redefining the target: chemotherapeutics as antiangiogenics. J Clin Oncol 2001, 19:1195–1206.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Markman M, Hakes T, Barakat R, et al.: Follow-up of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center patients treated on National Cancer Institute Treatment Referral Center protocol 9103: paclitaxel in refractory ovarian cancer. J Clin Oncol 1996, 14:796–799.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rohl J, Kushner D, Markman M: Chronic administration of single-agent paclitaxel in gynecologic malignancies. Gynecol Oncol 2001, 81:201–205.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. von Gruenigen V, Karlen JR, Waggoner SE: A case of chronic paclitaxel administration in ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2003, 89:532–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Markman M: Viewing ovarian cancer as a "chronic disease": what exactly does this mean? Gynecol Oncol 2006, 100:229–230.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Disclosure

Dr. Markman is a consultant for Genentech, Celgene, Ortho Biotech, Sanofi-Aventis, Hana Pharmaceuticals, and Boehringer Ingelheim. He serves on the speakers’ bureau for Eli Lilly.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Maurie Markman

Authors
  1. Maurie Markman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maurie Markman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Markman, M. Maintenance Chemotherapy: An Evolving and Increasingly Acceptable Strategy in Cancer Management. Curr Oncol Rep 12, 349–351 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-010-0121-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-010-0121-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation