OBJECTIVES:
* Compare survival of patients with relapsed ovarian epithelial or peritoneal cancer treated with paclitaxel and either carboplatin or cisplatin vs conventional platinum-based chemotherapy.
* Compare the quality of life and health economics of these regimens in these patients.
OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms.
* Arm I: Patients receive platinum-based chemotherapy (that is familiar to the oncologist and used routinely by the center) comprising either cisplatin or carboplatin alone or cisplatin in combination with other drugs.
* Arm II: Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 3 hours followed by either carboplatin or cisplatin.
Treatment for both arms continues every 3 weeks for up to 6 courses in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Quality of life is assessed.
Patients are followed at 6 months, every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually thereafter.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A maximum of 800 patients will be accrued for this study.
