A Reappraisal of the Role of Chlorambucil in Patients with End Stage Ovarian Cancer Who Have Previously been Treated with Platinum Regimens

Abstract

The role of chlorambucil in end stage platinum resistant epithelial ovarian cancer was evaluated in women with end stage ovarian cancer. They had received platinum based chemotherapy and all other intravenous chemotherapeutic options had been exhausted. Over a 15 year period, 30 patients were identified. The median age was 64.5 years (range 45–81). The median number of chlorambucil pulses was 4 (range 1–16). The median survival following the introduction of chlorambucil was 5.5 months (range 0.72 – 38.8). The 22 patients who survived for longer than three months were significantly younger than those who did not (p= 0.03). Apart from two patients who developed transient myelosupression there were no toxic side effects. Chlorambucil should be considered as a therapeutic option in end stage ovarian cancer. It is has minimal toxicity, and can be prescribed safely for long term use. In younger women, an increase in benefit may be anticipated.