Study results from J.P. Micha and colleagues broaden understanding of ovarian cancer
2009 AUG 3 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to recent research published in the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, "Maintenance therapy has been extensively studied to discern any prospective therapeutic advantage in the treatment of advanced stage ovarian carcinoma. The CA-125 assay may have prognostic benefit in determining whether this treatment regimen is appropriate for ovarian carcinoma patients who achieve a complete response to first-fine therapy." "We retrospectively documented the CA-125 levels of 2 advanced ovarian cancer patient groups who exhibited a clinically defined complete response to their primary induction therapy. were then treated with a paclitaxel-based maintenance therapy regimen. The first group (group A; n = 13 patients) received 3 cycles of single-agent paclitaxel maintenance therapy, and the second group (group 13; n = 13 patients) received 12 cycles of single-agent paclitaxel maintenance therapy. The premaintenance therapy CA-125 serum levels (<10 or >= 10 U/mL) of the 2 treatment groups were then retrospectively evaluated in all intragroup analysis to discern any relationship with progression-free Survival (PFS) and overall survival. There Was a statistically significantly relationship between the CA-125 levels (<10 U/mL) premaintenance therapy and PFS. The patients who had the lowest CA-125 levels exhibited the most favorable PFS results," wrote J.P. Micha and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Despite the limited sample size and nonrandomized nature of this study, these results are provocative and Suggest that advanced ovarian cancer patients who achieve an excellent response to primary platinum-based chemotherapy with a CA-125 serum level less than 10 U/mL may be more amenable to the benefits of paclitaxel maintenance therapy." Micha and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Gynecological Cancer (Clinical Utility of CA-125 for Maintenance Therapy in the Treatment of Advanced Stage Ovarian Carcinoma. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 2009;19(2):239-241). For additional information, contact B.H. Goldstein, Gynecology Oncology Associates, Hoag Cancer Center, 351 Hospital Rd., Suite 507, Newport Beach, CA 92663, USA. The publisher's contact information for the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA. Keywords: United States, Drugs, Gynecology, Oncology, Ovarian Cancer, Ovarian Carcinoma, Paclitaxel, Pharmaceuticals, Therapy, Treatment, Women's Health. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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