A Pilot Study of Gemcitabine and Epirubicin Combination Chemotherapy as a Salvage Regimen for Recurrent Platinum Resistant and/or Refractory Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the antitumor activity and toxicity profile of gemcitabine combined with epirubicin in patients with recurrent platinum refractory ovarian epithelial cancer. Patients and Methods: Patients with recurrent platinum refractory ovarian cancer and with adequate hematologic, renal and hepatic function and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 2 were enrolled. The regimen was Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m (day 1, 8) and Epirubicin 60 mg/m (day 1), the cycle was repeated at interval of 21 days. Results: Twenty eight patients were recruited and received 156 cycles of gemcitabine-epirubicin combination chemotherapy (median 6 cycles). Overall response rate was 42.9% (95% CI equal 24.5 to 62.7) and tumor control rate was 75% (95% CI equal 55.1 to 89.3). No complete responses were observed. Median progression-free and median overall survival times were 7 and 15 months, respectively. The most common grade 3/4 hematological toxicities were neutropenia (57.1%), anemia (10.7%), and thrombocytopenia (7.1%), while the most common grade 3/4 non-hematological toxicities were mucositis (14.3%) and vomiting (3.6%). No treatment related deaths were observed. Conclusion: Gemcitabine combined with epirubicin regimen appeared to offer an acceptable clinical profile in patients with recurrent platinum-refractory epithelial ovarian cancer.