Treatment-related leukemia after taxane and platinum therapy in gynecological cancer patients (Gynecologic Oncology Trial and Investigation Consortium 011).

Aim: To clarify incidence and clinical features of treatment-related leukemia (TRL) due to taxane/platinum therapy in gynecological cancer patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of gynecological cancer patients who were diagnosed at facilities participating in the Gynecologic Oncology Trial and Investigation Consortium and started only taxane/platinum therapy as chemotherapy between 2002 and 2006.

Results: The site of the primary lesion was the ovary in 124, endometrium in 37, and uterine cervix in 4. The regimen of chemotherapy was paclitaxel (T) + carboplatin (C) therapy in 134 and others in 31 patients. The cumulative incidence was 2.4% (4/165), and the incidence was 2.9/1,000 person-years. All four cases were acute myeloid leukemia. The average total doses of T and C in patients without TRL were 1,693 (SD 1,050) and 4,170 (SD 2,423) mg. For TRL patients, the total T and C doses were, respectively, 1,555 and 3,540 mg, 1,620 and 4,200 mg, 2,130 and 4,700 mg, 3,220 mg and 8,310 mg. The fourth patient received additional 2,415 mg of docetaxel and 2,155 mg of nedaplatin. The intervals from the primary chemotherapy to the onset of TRL were 27, 34, 67, and 114 months. Three patients had no evidence of ovarian cancer. Three patients died of TRL at 4 days, 5 months, and 11 months, one patient remained in remission at 25 months after diagnosis of TRL.

Conclusion: Patients receiving taxane/platinum therapy should undergo long-term follow-up with attention to the development of TRL, even if the gynecologic malignant cancer is in remission.