Outcome of ATP-based tumor chemosensitivity assay directed chemotherapy in heavily pre-treated recurrent ovarian carcinoma

• Main Authors: Lamont Alan, Higgins Bernard R, Mercer Stuart J, Whitehouse Pauline A, Knight Louise A, Di Nicolantonio Federica, Neale Michael H, Sharma Sanjay, Osborne Richard, Hindley Andrew C, Kurbacher Christian M, Cree Ian A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2003-07-01
• Series: BMC Cancer
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/3/19

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We wished to evaluate the clinical response following ATP-Tumor Chemosensitivity Assay (ATP-TCA) directed salvage chemotherapy in a series of UK patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The results are compared with that of a similar assay used in a different country in terms of evaluability and clinical endpoints.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From November 1998 to November 2001, 46 patients with pre-treated, advanced ovarian cancer were given a total of 56 courses of chemotherapy based on in-vitro ATP-TCA responses obtained from fresh tumor samples or ascites. Forty-four patients were evaluable for results. Of these, 18 patients had clinically platinum resistant disease (relapse < 6 months after first course of chemotherapy). There was evidence of cisplatin resistance in 31 patients from their first ATP-TCA. Response to treatment was assessed by radiology, clinical assessment and tumor marker level (CA 125).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall response rate was 59% (33/56) per course of chemotherapy, including 12 complete responses, 21 partial responses, 6 with stable disease, and 15 with progressive disease. Two patients were not evaluable for response having received just one cycle of chemotherapy: if these were excluded the response rate is 61%. Fifteen patients are still alive. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 6.6 months per course of chemotherapy; median overall survival (OAS) for each patient following the start of TCA-directed therapy was 10.4 months (95% confidence interval 7.9–12.8 months).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results show similar response rates to previous studies using ATP-TCA directed therapy in recurrent ovarian cancer. The assay shows high evaluability and this study adds weight to the reproducibility of results from different centres.</p>