Carboplatin alone inferior for ovarian cancer in elderly: trial

The international study was halted early because of poor survival, researchers report
Reuters Health Staff writer
Frail old woman

Treatment of newly diagnosed ovarian cancer with single-agent carboplatin has markedly inferior results compared with a conventional carboplatin–paclitaxel doublet therapy in vulnerable elderly patients, researchers say.

Based on indications that frailty might make patients appropriate for less aggressive chemotherapy regimens, the French-led team enrolled 120 newly diagnosed patients with a median age of 80 and a geriatric vulnerability score of three or more.