Vorinostat, Carboplatin and Gemcitabine in Women With Recurrent, Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer

OBJECTIVES: Primary Phase Ib: Determine the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of vorinostat when used in combination with standard (fixed) doses of carboplatin/gemcitabine during a 21 day cycle in patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer Phase II: Estimate the median progression-free survival (PFS) of patients treated with carboplatin/gemcitabine/vorinostat and vorinostat maintenance Secondary * Estimate the response rate of carboplatin/gemcitabine/vorinostat * Assess the toxicities of carboplatin/gemcitabine/vorinostat * Assess the toxicities of maintenance vorinostat * Measure overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) STATISTICAL DESIGN: The Phase Ib study was originally design to follow a standard 3+3 dose escalation design and evaluate 4 vorinostat dose levels.The DLT observation period was the 21-day cycle 1 length. Note: Ultimately 6 dose levels were evaluated as the protocol was amended to add dose levels, de-escalating cumulative vorinostat dose per cycle when 2 of 3 participants in dose level cohorts 2A, 1B and 1C experienced DLTs. In the Phase II study, a median PFS of 13 months would be worthy of further study, representing a 66% improvement compared with the historical median of 8.6 months observed with carboplatin/gemcitabine. With 36 evaluable patients, there is 80% power to reject the null hypothesis in favor of the alternative at a 5% significance level.