Salvage mitomycin/5-fluorouracil after platinum-based therapy for women with advanced ovarian cancer and related gynecologic malignancies

Purpose: to determine response rates, survival, and toxicity of a regimen of mitomycin-C and 5-fluorouracil in patients previously treated with platinum-based combinations for ovarian cancer and related gynecologic malignancies. Patients and methods: retrospective chart review of all cases of persistent or recurrent ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal carcinoma treated with mitomycin-C 7 mg/m² followed by continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m²/day over 4 days. Results: 26 patients were treated after a median of 2 prior platinum-based regimens, 22 with ovarian cancer, 3 with peritoneal cancer, and one with fallopian tube cancer. Only 2 patients completed 6 or more cycles. 2 patients had partial responses (8%); no complete responses were seen. 24 patients died a median of 3 months after the initiation of therapy, while 2 patients were alive 4 and 8 months after beginning therapy. All deaths were attributable to disease, not complications of treatment. 8 patients required dose modification or treatment delay for toxicity. Nine patients required a total of 11 unscheduled admissions. Conclusions: toxicity attributable to mitomycin-C/5-fluorouracil therapy of ovarian cancer is acceptable, but responses are few. More effective alternative should be sought.