Extreme drug resistance is common after prior exposure to paclitaxel.

Objective: The platinum-free interval (PFI) is an important entity in the treatment of women with epithelial ovarian cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine on clinical samples whether a taxane-free interval (TFI), as defined by in vitro extreme drug resistance assay, existed in women previously exposed to platinum and taxane chemotherapy.

Methods: Records were examined from 2003 to 2006 to find all patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who had previous exposure to platinum and taxane therapy.

Nutritional assessment using prealbumin as an objective criterion to determine whom should not undergo primary radical cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if serum prealbumin could be used to objectively determine which patients could not safely undergo cytoreductive surgery.

Methods: Patients with suspected ovarian cancer in a 24-month period underwent nutritional assessment during their preoperative workup and were followed for development of postoperative complications.

Results: One hundred and eight of 114 patients underwent surgical cytoreduction.