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Levamisole as adjuvant to chemotherapy of ovarian cancer. Results of a randomized trial and 4‐year follow‐up
Author(s) -
Khoo Soo Keat,
Whitaker Sue V.,
Jones Ian S. C.,
Thomas David A.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19840915)54:6<986::aid-cncr2820540607>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - levamisole , medicine , placebo , chemotherapy , ovarian cancer , adjuvant , randomized controlled trial , cancer , neutropenia , surgery , stage (stratigraphy) , oncology , gastroenterology , pathology , paleontology , alternative medicine , biology
The results of a randomized trial, stratified according to age and stage of disease, in 140 patients with ovarian cancer are presented. The drug, levamisole, or a placebo was given as adjuvant to cytotoxic chemotherapy for 12 months after maximal surgical reduction of tumor. Because of severe side effects, levamisole treatment was discontinued in 8 of 69 patients (marked neutropenia in 5, severe skin rashes in 3). There were no significant differences in the survival curve and mean duration of survival between levamisole‐treated and placebo‐treated groups during the 4 years of follow‐up, except for patients with Stage II disease. Among these latter patients, the survival rate became progressively much lower in the levamisole‐treated group and the difference reached statistical significance after the second year of follow‐up ( P < 0.01). In view of the inconclusive evidence that levamisole provides a beneficial effect (in fact, there is concern of a deleterious effect) and the serious side effects, the drug should not be used in patients with ovarian cancer.