Background

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of all gynaecologic neoplasms. The high mortality rate may be explained by the lack of symptoms accompanying early disease, resulting in patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Furthermore, long term results obtained with current treatments are limited.

The combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin became standard first line chemotherapy following the results of the GOG-111 [1] and subsequent confirmatory trials [2], because it was more effective than the combination of cyclophosphamide and cisplatin. Due to its more favourable toxicity profile, paclitaxel combined with carboplatin has replaced paclitaxel and cisplatin as the standard first line chemotherapy worldwide [3–5]. Debulking surgery and first line systemic chemotherapy induce complete or partial response in up to 80% of patients, with about a 25% pathological complete remission rate [4–6]. Unfortunately, recurrences occur in the majority of patients, and the 5-year survival rate is only 30–50%, largely depending on the initial FIGO stage.

Anthracyclines were originally used in the first line treatment of ovarian cancer in the '70s, when in vitro experiments showed a dose-response relationship in ovarian cancer cell lines, and activity against epithelial ovarian cancer was subsequently proven in clinical trials [7–9]. The role of anthracyclines in ovarian cancer, though still debated, has had renewed interest after the availability of liposomal antracyclines.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is a formulation of doxorubicin encapsulated in liposomes in order to obtain pharmacokinetic properties not available with conventional formulation of the drug: lower plasma concentration peak, lower clearance, smaller distribution volume, longer half-life and higher AUC, resulting in a different toxicity profile [10–15]. The size of the liposomes allows selective accumulation in the tumor vascular bed following extravasation through the leaky tumor vasculature [11, 12]. In addition, the special coating (pegylation) of the liposomes is associated with reduced clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system, thus helping to maintain active drug concentrations for longer periods [10–13].

A phase III randomised trial [16] compared PLD with standard topotecan, in second line treatment of ovarian cancer. A 5-year update of this trial has been recently published [17], and PLD proved to be statistically superior to topotecan in terms of overall survival. Furthermore, the analysis conducted in the subgroup of "platinum-sensitive" patients showed a particularly significant advantage for PLD compared to topotecan in this group. Following these results, PLD is now considered the drug of choice for the treatment of relapsed ovarian cancer in terms of activity, toxicity and cost benefits. A phase II trial has recently shown that the combination of carboplatin and PLD given every 4 weeks is highly effective in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer [18]. These data represent a strong rationale for testing PLD in the first line treatment of ovarian cancer.

The MITO-2 (Multicentre Italian Trials in Ovarian cancer) study is a randomized phase III study comparing carboplatin plus paclitaxel to carboplatin plus PLD in first-line treatment of ovarian cancer patients. The primary end-point is progression-free survival. The secondary end-points are toxicity, objective response rate, quality of life and overall survival. In both arms chemotherapy is administered every 3 weeks. Due to the paucity of published safety data on the 3-weekly schedule adopted for the combination of carboplatin and PLD, an early safety analysis had been planned and the results are reported in this paper.

Methods

Patient randomization in the MITO-2 trial started in January 2003. The protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of each participating center. Written informed consent was obtained from each enrolled patient, prior to study entry. Patients with cytologic or histological diagnosis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (stage Ic-IV), and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2 were eligible. Exclusion criteria were age ≥ 75 years, prior or concurrent malignant cancer (except for non-melanoma skin cancer and for in situ carcinoma of the uterine cervix, if adequately treated), brain metastases, inadequate bone marrow function (neutrophils <2,000/mm3 or platelets <100,000/mm3); abnormal renal function (total serum creatinine level > 1.25 the upper normal limit), abnormal liver function (sAST or sALT or total serum bilirubin levels > 1.25 the upper normal limit, except if caused by liver metastases), heart disease (heart failure, heart attack in the previous 6 months, atrio-ventricular block of any degree, serious arrhythmia).

Patients in the standard arm received carboplatin, area under curve (AUC) 5, intravenously (i.v.), plus paclitaxel, 175 mg/m2, i.v. in a 3-hour infusion, both drugs on day 1, every 21 days. Patients in the experimental arm received carboplatin AUC 5 i.v. and PLD [Caelyx®], 30 mg/m2, both drugs on day 1, every 21 days. Chemotherapy was administered for a maximum of 6 cycles. Carboplatin was dosed in accordance with the Calvert formula [19], and administered in 250 ml physiologic solution, over 30 minutes. PLD was administered after carboplatin infusion, in 250 ml 5% glucosate solution, over 1 hour.

Treatment toxicity and adverse events were coded according to the Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), version 2.0 [20].

Criteria for retreatment were: neutrophils ≥ 1,500/mm3, platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3, Hgb ≥ 9 g/dl, absence of organ toxicity ≥ 2 (with the exclusion of hair loss). If these minimum conditions were not met, the cycle was postponed by 7 days for a maximum of 2 weeks. If the treatment was delayed for more than 2 weeks, chemotherapy was discontinued due to unacceptable prolonged toxicity. After the first 3 cycles, in the absence of unacceptable toxicity, patients with objective response or stable disease received a further 3 cycles, for a maximum number of six cycles.

A 20% dose reduction was planned for grade 4 neutropenia lasting more than 7 days, grade 3 thrombocytopenia lasting more than 7 days, or neurotoxicity. In case of creatinine clearance < 60 ml, the dose of carboplatin was reduced from AUC 5 to AUC 4. In case of grade 2 or higher palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE), chemotherapy was delayed for up to 2 weeks, until recovery to grade 0–1, and then resumed with a 25% dose reduction. If cutaneous toxicity had not recovered after 2 weeks, PLD was withdrawn.

No prophylactic use of G-CSF was recommended. Therapeutic and prophylactic use of G-CSF was allowed for febrile or afebrile grade 4 neutropenia.

Complete blood counts were performed at baseline and weekly. Laboratory exams (sAST, sALT, total serum protein, albumin, bilirubinaemia, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatininaemia, blood urea nitrogen, glycaemia, uricaemia, serum electrolytes) and urinalysis were planned baseline, and then repeated before each cycle and 3 weeks after the end of the last cycle.

A preplanned safety analysis was performed in July 2004. The safety analysis was planned to be descriptive and was not driven by a pre-stated hypothesis and consequent statistical plan. A sample size of 50 patients was arbitrarily chosen, and the first 50 patients assigned to CLD arm and receiving at least one dose of experimental drugs were considered for this safety analysis.

Results

Main baseline characteristics of the patients are reported in table 1. Median age was 60 years (range 34–75). All but two patients had a good ECOG performance status (0 or 1). Almost half of the patients were optimally debulked.

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients (n = 50)
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Forty-three patients (86%) completed the planned number of cycles. Of the remaining seven patients, chemotherapy was interrupted before completion for progressive disease or worsening of disease symptoms (5 cases), for patient's refusal (1) and for prolonged toxicity (1).

Three patients interrupted pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, continuing carboplatin, after the first dose: 1 patient for grade 3 allergy, and 2 patients for prolonged neutropenia. Four patients had a dose reduction of liposomal doxorubicin because of myelotoxicity (3 patients after 4 cycles, and 1 patient after 5 cycles).

Thirty-four patients (68%) delayed at least one cycle due to toxicity. Reasons for chemotherapy delays are detailed in table 2. In most cases, the reason was sustained neutropenia or other hematological toxicity. No delay due to cutaneous toxicity was recorded. Overall, 37% of the cycles were delayed.

Table 2 Causes of chemotherapy delays due to toxicity
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Details of worst haematological and non-haematological toxicities are reported in table 3. No toxic death was recorded. Grade 3 anemia was reported in 8 patients (16%), with 6 patients receiving transfusions. Grade 3/4 neutropenia was observed in 36% and 10% of patients respectively. Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 22% and 6% of patients respectively, and in all cases was asymptomatic and did not require platelet transfusion. Allergy was reported in 5 patients (10%), leading to treatment withdrawal in 1 case.

Table 3 Worst toxicity per patient (n = 50)
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Organ toxicity was infrequent: grade 1 pulmonary in 3 patients (6%), grade 1 heart rhythm in 2 patients (4%), liver toxicity in 6 patients (grade 1, 6%; grade 2, 4%; and grade 3, 2%). Complete hair loss was reported in 3 patients. Only 1 patient experienced grade 1 neuropathy. Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia was recorded in 14% of the patients (grade 1, 10%; grade 2, 2%; grade 3, 2%).

The phase III trial is ongoing; as of January 2006, 395 patients have been enrolled.

Discussion

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin is considered to be one of the more active drugs in ovarian cancer. This formulation has significant advantages in terms of tolerability compared to conventional doxorubicin: the most frequent toxicities consist of cutaneous and mucosal toxicity (hand-foot syndrome and stomatitis), with a very low rate of nausea, hair loss, extravasation-related necrosis or reduction in the ventricular ejection fraction [15–17]. When given as a single agent, the drug is usually administered every 4 weeks. A phase II trial conducted in France, the results of which were first presented at ASCO 2004 [18], analysed the combination of PLD and carboplatin, in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. Carboplatin was administered at AUC 5, and liposomal doxorubicin at the dose of 30 mg/m2, both drugs given every 4 weeks. The combination showed a very high rate of activity (objective response rate 68%), and a favourable toxicity profile.

The proven efficacy of liposomal doxorubicin in second line treatment, and the possibility of easily combining it with carboplatin, encouraged us to test the efficacy of the combination of carboplatin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in first line treatment of patients with ovarian tumour in a phase III multicentric trial comparing it with standard chemotherapy (carboplatin plus paclitaxel). In order to maintain the full dose of carboplatin we chose a 3-weekly schedule of carboplatin and PLD.

Our data show that this schedule is feasible and has a favourable toxicity profile. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia were the most frequent toxicities, but no case of febrile neutropenia was recorded, and no case of thrombocytopenia was symptomatic. Though 68% of the patients had at least one cycle delayed, most often due to persistent neutropenia at day 21, most of the cycles were still given on time. Non-hematological toxicity of the combination appears to be different from the toxicity expected with carboplatin plus paclitaxel, with markedly less neurotoxicity and hair loss, and a higher incidence of mild skin toxicity. The limited incidence and severity of PPE clearly indicates that skin toxicity is significantly less frequent at this dose compared to single agent PLD when given at higher doses. Overall, our toxicity data compare favourably with the results reported in the literature in platinum-sensitive recurrent disease [18, 21]. The main toxic effect recorded by the French group was myelosuppression, with the same proportion of grade 3–4 neutropenia, and slightly more anemia (grade 3 34%), and thrombocytopenia (grade 3–4 31%), probably as a consequence of the second-line setting. delay in the administration of chemotherapy was necessary in that study, although less frequently (30% patients) due to the every 4-weeks schedule.

Our study shows that the non-hematological toxicity profile of carboplatin and PLD is particularly safe. The hematologic toxicities are associated with a significant number of delays in chemotherapy administration for neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, though no cases of febrile neutropenia or symptomatic thrombocytopenia were reported. The low rate of neurotoxicity is interesting, given that neurotoxicity is a major factor in non compliance with standard first line chemotherapy. In addition, the low rate of hair loss could represent a significant advantage compared to the standard regimen of carboplatin plus paclitaxel.

Conclusion

The combination of carboplatin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, in an every-3-week schedule, can be safely given as first line treatment of patients with ovarian cancer. The MITO-2 study continues the planned enrollment, and its results will provide useful information regarding the future role of this combination for these patients.

Appendix

Participating MITO-2 Institutions and coauthors

National Cancer Institute, Naples (Medical Oncology B: S Pignata, C Pisano, RV Iaffaioli; Ginecology: S Greggi; Medical Oncology C: E Rossi; Clinical Trials Unit: F Perrone, M Di Maio, E De Maio, A Morabito, G De Feo, R D'Aniello);

Department of Medicine and Public health, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy (C Gallo, G Signoriello, A Annunziata, P Chiodini);

Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome-Campobasso (G Scambia, G Ferrandina, D Lorusso, A Di Stefano);

Medical Oncology A, Regina Elena Institute, Rome, Italy (A Savarese, F Cognetti, A. Felici);

Medical Oncology C, National Cancer Institute – Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano (PN), Italy (R Sorio, S Scalone, E Campagnutta);

Medical Oncology, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome, Italy (E Breda, V Zagonel, R Bompiani);

Malzoni Clinic, Avellino (C Malzoni, M Malzoni, A. Vernaglia Lombardi);

Medical Oncology I, La Maddalena Clinic, Palermo, Italy (V Gebbia, R Agueli, A Testa);

Gynecologic Oncology, M. Ascoli Hospital, Palermo, Italy (P Musso, L Segreto, R Demma);

Gynecology, Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania, Italy (P Scollo, G Scibilia, E Lomeo);

Medical Oncology, Ospedali Riuniti, Reggio Calabria, Italy (M Nardi, P Del Medico, D Azzarello);

Medical Oncology, S. Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy (E Galligioni, A Ferro);

Oncology Institute, Bari, Italy (V Lorusso, A Latorre);

Medical Oncology, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy (R De Vivo);

Medical Oncology, Umberto I Civil Hospital, Nocera Inferiore (SA), Italy (AM D'Arco, A Fabbrocini);

Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy (L Crinò, S Rimondini);

Ramazzini Hospital, Carpi (MO), Italy (F Artioli, L Scaltriti);

Medical Oncology, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Benevento, Italy (A Febbraro, MC Merola);

Medical Oncology, S. Massimo Hospital, Penne (PE), Italy (D Natale, C Chiapperino);

Civil Hospital, Faenza (RA), Italy (S Tamberi, A Gambi);

Gynecologic Unit CHC, Maternidade Bissaya – Barreto, Coimbra, Portugal (MO Campos, IM Henriques);

University of Palermo, Policlinico Giaccone, Palermo, Italy (N Gebbia, MR Valerio);

Medical Oncology, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy (E Aitini, G Cavazzini);

Ospedale degli Infermi, Rimini – Cattolica, Italy (A Ravaioli, G Oliverio);

Gynecology, Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo, Italy (L Frigerio, L Carlini);

Medical Oncology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (B Massidda);

Ginecology, S Anna Hospital, Turin, Italy (S Danese);

Medical Oncology, S. Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, Avellino, Italy (F Del Gaizo);

Medical and Experimental Oncology Unit, Oncology Institute, Bari, Italy (E Naglieri);

Medical Oncology, Mariano Santo Hospital, Cosenza, Italy (R Biamonte);

Miulli hospital, Acquaviva delle Fonti (BA), Italy (G Nettis);

  1. S.

    Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy (M Marzola);

Cotugno Hospital, Naples, Italy (V Montesarchio);

Budrio Bentivoglio, Italy (V Arigliano);

Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy (N Riva);

Gynecology, Second University of Naples, Italy (GC Balbi).