Phase II trial of acivicin in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma. A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study.

Twenty-four evaluable patients with epithelial ovarian cancer resistant to primary therapy, or relapsing after response to initial therapy, were treated with acivicin utilizing a daily X 5 schedule. One patient achieved a partial response lasting five months; the remaining 23 patients showed no objective response. Profound and dose-limiting neurological toxicity was seen in 11 patients. Acivicin is inactive in patients with previously treated ovarian cancer and has a poor therapeutic index due to neurologic adverse effects in this patient population. The profound neurotoxicity may be related to prior therapy with cisplatin, to protein binding in ascitic fluid accumulations or to yet undefined parameters.