High-dose methotrexate with "RESCUE" plus cyclophosphamide as initial chemotherapy in ovarian adenocarcinoma. A randomized trial with observations on the influence of C parvum immunotherapy

Cancer. 1980 Sep 15;46(6):1333-8. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19800915)46:6<1333::aid-cncr2820460606>3.0.co;2-3.

Abstract

In a prospective randomized study, the chemotherapeutic combination of high-dose methotrexate-citrovorum factor rescue plus cyclophosphamide (MECY) has been shown to be statistically significantly superior to the combination of 5-fluorouracil plus cyclophosphamide (FUCY) in the treatment of Stage III-IV ovarian adenocarcinoma. With MECY, an overall objective remission rate of 67% and a complete remission rate of 48% were achieved. All patients had undergone no treatment except for surgery. In addition to the chemotherapy, patients were randomly allocated to receive or not receive nonspecific immunotherapy with Corynebacterium parvum; this immunotherapy had no apparent effect on the chemotherapeutic response. The study demonstrates a high degree of activity for the MECY regimen, and a comparison between the results with MECY in this study and melphalan in an earlier prospective randomized study provides statistical evidence favoring MECY over single-agent melphalan in the treatment of this disease.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bacterial Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leucovorin / administration & dosage*
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage*
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Propionibacterium acnes / immunology
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Leucovorin
  • Methotrexate