The “predictive molecule targeted chemotherapy” for relapsed ovarian cancer—a pilot study

Objective: How to choose chemotherapy regimen is a often-encountered and formidable problem in the setting of relapsed ovarian cancer. So far, it was usually according to the clinical trials and doctors’ experience and the response rate was very low. In the present study, we proposed a new treatment strategy–the “predictive molecule targeted chemotherapy, PMTC” to choose supposedly sensitive protocols and void supposedly resistant protocols based on the specific predictive molecule expression of individual tumor tissue. Methods: Retrospectively analysis of 16 cases of relapsed ovarian cancer patients from January 2002 to December 2003, as the experience-directed chemotherapy group (control group), to calculate the response rate. Prospectively recruit 9 cases of relapsed ovarian cancer patients after January 2004, whose chemotherapy drug choice was based on the expression of 6 predictive molecules (p53, et al) by means of immunohistochemistry, as the PMTC group, to calculate the response rate. χ2 test was used for the statistical analysis. Results: The response rate of control group was 26%, including 31% for second line and 14% for third line respectively. The response rate of PMTC group was 78%, in which 5 cases of early relapse all responded. The difference was significant (P=0.011). Conclusions: PMTC is a new effective method to treat the relapsed ovarian cancer.