Triptorelin (D-Trp-6-LHRH) in combination with carboplatin-containing polychemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer: a pilot study.
In experimental and clinical phase II trials GnRH agonists were shown to possess antitumor activity in ovarian cancer. The outcome of prostatic cancer was also improved experimentally by a combination of cytostatic chemotherapy and GnRH analogs. Encouraged by these results, we administered micro-encapsulated triptorelin (Decapeptyl CR), 3.75 mg on the first day of each chemotherapy course, to 15 patients with advanced ovarian cancer in addition to adjuvant, carboplatin-containing chemotherapy (Carboplatin, Epirubicin, Prednimustine and Carboplatin, Etoposide) after radical surgery. Patients received a total of 6 courses. After the completion of combined chemotherapy GnRH analogs were continued for another 6 months at 28-day intervals. Results were compared with those obtained in a group of 15 ovarian cancer patients receiving the same chemotherapy regimen without GnRH medication. At a median follow-up of 36 months no significant differences were seen in terms of response, survival and time to progression. However, patients undergoing chemotherapy+triptorelin tended to show a more positive outcome than those on chemotherapy alone. G1 and G2 tumors in particular were found to respond better to the combined treatment regimen.