The addition of Paclitxel to conventional platinum-base chemotherapy improves survival rates and progression suppression in women with relapsed, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, two European studies suggest.

The results of a study at the International Collaborative Ovarian Neoplasm-4 and German Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynaekologische Onkologie Study Group Ovarian Cancer-2.2 trials have been presented to the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXI.

According to Jonathan A Ledermann of the University College, London Department of Oncology, the treatment should be considered as a standard.

'All women relapsing more than six months after completion of previous platinum-based chemotherapy should be considered for combination therapy with paclitaxel plus platinum, even if they received paclitaxel as part of their previous therapy', he said.