OBJECTIVES:
* Compare the two-year progression-free survival in patients with optimally debulked stage III or IV ovarian epithelial cancer undergoing high-dose sequential chemotherapy vs standard chemotherapy.
* Compare the overall survival, toxicity, and quality of life in this patient population receiving these two treatment regimens.
OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.
* Arm I: Patients receive 5 courses of sequential high-dose chemotherapy as follows:
* Courses 1 and 2: Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 3 hours and cyclophosphamide IV over 2 hours on day 1 followed by peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection. Patients receive filgrastim (G-CSF) subcutaneously (SC) beginning 24 hours following chemotherapy and continuing until target number of PBSC are reached.
* Courses 3 and 4: Patients receive paclitaxel as in courses 1-2 and carboplatin IV over 4 hours on day 1. At 72 hours following completion of carboplatin, patients receive PBSC infusion. Beginning one day following PBSC infusion, patients receive G-CSF SC until blood counts recover.
* Course 5: Patients receive paclitaxel as in courses 1 and 2 and carboplatin as in courses 3 and 4 and melphalan IV over 15 minutes on day 2 or 3. Patients receive PBSC and G-CSF as in courses 3 and 4.
* Treatment repeats every 3-4 weeks.
* Arm II: Patients receive standard chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin (or cisplatin) and paclitaxel IV over 3 hours every 3 weeks for 6 courses. Patients may receive doxorubicin or epirubicin in addition to the standard chemotherapy every 4 weeks.
Quality of life is assessed prior to therapy, at 4-6 weeks following completion of therapy, and then at 3 months, 9 months, and 15 months.
Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually thereafter.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 208 patients (104 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study.
