Ovarian cancer is frequently diagnosed in patients over 65 years old, but limited data are available on tolerance and effectiveness of chemotherapy in this subset of patients. A total of 21 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with weekly carboplatin following failure of first-line chemotherapy. Median age was 73 years (range, 66-85). Patients received carboplatin at the dose 100 mg/m(2)/week with discontinuation for severe toxicity or documented progression. A total of 228 cycles were administered (median per patients, 10 cycles). Six partial remissions (29%; 95% confidence interval, 11-52%), 6 stabilizations of disease, and 9 disease progressions were observed. Median time to progression was 6 months. No toxic deaths were observed. Side effects consisted mainly of anemia (grade 3 in 3 cases) and neutropenia. Non-hematologic toxicity was minimal. In conclusion, the schedule has moderate activity with good tolerability in elderly patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

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