• Gynecology Disease Site Group. Covens A, Carey M, Bryson P, Verma S, Fung Kee Fung M. First-line chemotherapy for postoperative patients with stage II, III or IV epithelial ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer [full report]. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); 2004 Jun [online update]. 38 p. (Practice guideline report; no. 4-1-2). [67 references]

• Intravenous carboplatin with or without paclitaxel or docetaxel is the recommended postoperative chemotherapy regimen for newly diagnosed stage II–IV epithelial ovarian cancer.
  • Paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin is associated with greater neurotoxicity than docetaxel and carboplatin; however, the combination of docetaxel and carboplatin is associated with more myelosuppression than paclitaxel and carboplatin. The differences in the toxicity profiles should be discussed with patients when choosing the most appropriate regimen.
• Intravenous cisplatin plus paclitaxel may also be considered as a treatment option.

None provided

Original Guideline: September 2001

Two individual-patient-data meta-analyses and seven additional randomized trials investigated the survival benefits associated with various options for first-line systemic chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer. One additional randomized trial, reported only in abstract form, evaluated quality of life.

Data on the adverse effects of platinum-based chemotherapy in this setting were available from 13 randomized trials.

June 2004 Update

The recommendations are supported by meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials.

• Gynecology Disease Site Group. Covens A, Carey M, Bryson P, Verma S, Fung Kee Fung M. First-line chemotherapy for postoperative patients with stage II, III or IV epithelial ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer [full report]. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); 2004 Jun [online update]. 38 p. (Practice guideline report; no. 4-1-2). [67 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

2001 Sep 21 (revised 2004 Jun)

Program in Evidence-based Care - State/Local Government Agency [Non-U.S.]

The Practice Guidelines Initiative (PGI) is the main project of the Program in Evidence-based Care (PEBC), a Province of Ontario initiative sponsored by Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Cancer Care Ontario
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Provincial Gynecology Cancer Disease Site Group

Members of the Gynecology Disease Site Group disclosed potential conflict of interest information.

None available

This NGC summary was completed by ECRI on May 13, 2004. The information was verified by the guideline developer on June 2, 2004. This NGC summary was updated by ECRI on September 27, 2004. The updated information was verified by the guideline developer on October 20, 2004.