Maintenance Treatment with Interferon for Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Results of the Northern and Yorkshire Gynaecology Group Randomised Phase III Study

Overview

Journal Br J Cancer

Specialty Oncology

Date 2004 Aug 12

PMID 15305182

Citations 20

Authors

G D Hall

J M Brown

R E Coleman

M Stead

K S Metcalf

K R Peel

C Poole

M Crawford

B Hancock

P J Selby

T J Perren

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A randomised phase III trial was conducted to assess the role of interferon-alpha (INFalpha) 2a as maintenance therapy following surgery and/or chemotherapy in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Patients were randomised following initial surgery/chemotherapy to interferon-alpha 2a as 4.5 mega-units subcutaneously 3 days per week or to no further treatment. A total of 300 patients were randomised within the study between February 1990 and July 1997. No benefit for interferon maintenance was seen in terms of either overall or clinical event-free survival. We conclude that INF-alpha is not effective as a maintenance therapy in the management of women with ovarian cancer. The need for novel therapeutics or strategies to prevent the almost inevitable relapse of patients despite increasingly effective surgery and chemotherapy remains.

Citing Articles

Maintenance therapy for newly diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer- a review.

Nag S, Aggarwal S, Rauthan A, Warrier N J Ovarian Res. 2022; 15(1):88.

PMID: 35902911 PMC: 9331490. DOI: 10.1186/s13048-022-01020-1.

Efficacy and Safety of Placebo During the Maintenance Therapy of Ovarian Cancer in Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Wang J, Zhao L, Bin Y, Zhang K, Sun C, Wang Y Front Oncol. 2022; 12:796983.

PMID: 35692766 PMC: 9174428. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.796983.

Frontline Maintenance Treatment for Ovarian Cancer.

Elyashiv O, Wong Y, Ledermann J Curr Oncol Rep. 2021; 23(8):97.

PMID: 34125335 PMC: 8203502. DOI: 10.1007/s11912-021-01088-w.

An Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) Clinical Practice Guideline: Consolidation or Maintenance Systemic Therapy for Newly Diagnosed Stage II, III, or IV Epithelial Ovary, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma.

Hirte H, Yao X, Ferguson S, May T, Elit L Curr Oncol. 2021; 28(2):1114-1124.

PMID: 33804587 PMC: 8025745. DOI: 10.3390/curroncol28020107.

Opposing Roles of Type I Interferons in Cancer Immunity.

Boukhaled G, Harding S, Brooks D Annu Rev Pathol. 2020; 16:167-198.

PMID: 33264572 PMC: 8063563. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-031920-093932.

References

Freedman R, Gutterman J, Wharton J, RUTLEDGE F . Leukocyte interferon (IFN alpha) in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. J Biol Response Mod. 1983; 2(2):133-8. View

Pujade-Lauraine E, Guastalla J, Colombo N, Devillier P, Francois E, Fumoleau P . Intraperitoneal recombinant interferon gamma in ovarian cancer patients with residual disease at second-look laparotomy. J Clin Oncol. 1996; 14(2):343-50. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.1996.14.2.343. View

Willemse P, De Vries E, Mulder N, Aalders J, Bouma J, Sleijfer D . Intraperitoneal human recombinant interferon alpha-2b in minimal residual ovarian cancer. Eur J Cancer. 1990; 26(3):353-8. DOI: 10.1016/0277-5379(90)90233-j. View

Mandelli F, Avvisati G, Amadori S, Boccadoro M, Gernone A, Lauta V . Maintenance treatment with recombinant interferon alfa-2b in patients with multiple myeloma responding to conventional induction chemotherapy. N Engl J Med. 1990; 322(20):1430-4. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199005173222005. View

Bruzzone M, Rubagotti A, Gadducci A, Catsafados E, Foglia G, Brunetti I . Intraperitoneal carboplatin with or without interferon-alpha in advanced ovarian cancer patients with minimal residual disease at second look: a prospective randomized trial of 111 patients. G.O.N.O. Gruppo Oncologic Nord Ovest. Gynecol Oncol. 1997; 65(3):499-505. DOI: 10.1006/gyno.1997.4689. View

Umesaki N, Tanaka T, Muso H, Kawamura N, Kanaoka Y, Honda K . Intermittent cisplatin therapy for stage-III ovarian cancer patients following clinical remission. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 1999; 47(2):139-43. DOI: 10.1159/000010078. View

Einhorn N, Ling P, EINHORN S, Strander H . A phase II study on escalating interferon doses in advanced ovarian carcinoma. Am J Clin Oncol. 1988; 11(1):3-6. DOI: 10.1097/00000421-198802000-00002. View

Nardi M, Cognetti F, Pollera C, Giulia M, Lombardi A, ATLANTE G . Intraperitoneal recombinant alpha-2-interferon alternating with cisplatin as salvage therapy for minimal residual-disease ovarian cancer: a phase II study. J Clin Oncol. 1990; 8(6):1036-41. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.1990.8.6.1036. View

Eltabbakh G, Piver M, Hempling R, Recio F, Blumenson L . Prolonged disease-free survival by maintenance chemotherapy among patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 1998; 71(2):190-5. DOI: 10.1006/gyno.1998.5112. View

10.

McGuire 3rd W . High-dose chemotherapeutic approaches to ovarian cancer management. Semin Oncol. 2000; 27(3 Suppl 7):41-6. View

11.

Berek J, Hacker N, Lichtenstein A, Jung T, Spina C, Knox R . Intraperitoneal recombinant alpha-interferon for "salvage" immunotherapy in stage III epithelial ovarian cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study. Cancer Res. 1985; 45(9):4447-53. View

12.

Markman M, Liu P, Wilczynski S, Monk B, Copeland L, Alvarez R . Phase III randomized trial of 12 versus 3 months of maintenance paclitaxel in patients with advanced ovarian cancer after complete response to platinum and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy: a Southwest Oncology Group and Gynecologic Oncology Group trial. J Clin Oncol. 2003; 21(13):2460-5. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2003.07.013. View

13.

Berek J, Markman M, Stonebraker B, Lentz S, Adelson M, DeGeest K . Intraperitoneal interferon-alpha in residual ovarian carcinoma: a phase II gynecologic oncology group study. Gynecol Oncol. 1999; 75(1):10-4. DOI: 10.1006/gyno.1999.5532. View

14.

Epstein L, Shen J, Abele J, Reese C . Sensitivity of human ovarian carcinoma cells to interferon and other antitumor agents as assessed by an in vitro semi-solid agar technique. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1980; 350:228-44. DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1980.tb20624.x. View

15.

Windbichler G, Hausmaninger H, Stummvoll W, Graf A, Kainz C, Lahodny J . Interferon-gamma in the first-line therapy of ovarian cancer: a randomized phase III trial. Br J Cancer. 2000; 82(6):1138-44. PMC: 2363351. DOI: 10.1054/bjoc.1999.1053. View

16.

Thigpen J, Vance R, Lambuth B . Ovarian carcinoma: the role of chemotherapy. Semin Oncol. 1988; 15(3 Suppl 3):16-23. View