A trial comparing two combinations of chemotherapy for clear cell ovarian cancer (CCC1)

The trial team found that irinotecan and cisplatin didn’t work any better than paclitaxel and carboplatin for clear cell ovarian cancer.

This was an international phase 3 trial. It was a randomised trial.

667 women took part. The team was able to look at the results for 619 women.

• 305 women had paclitaxel and carboplatin
• 314 women had irinotecan and cisplatin

After 2 years the team looked at the total number of women in each group who were still alive. They found this was:

• 247 women who had paclitaxel and carboplatin
• 248 women who had irinotecan and cisplatin

They also looked at how many women had no sign of cancer. They found this was:

• 226 women who had paclitaxel and carboplatin
• 222 women who had irinotecan and cisplatin

The most severe side effects of paclitaxel and carboplatin were:

• a drop in blood cells
• nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)
• joint pain

The most severe side effects of irinotecan and cisplatin were:

• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• feeling or being sick
• high temperature and low white blood cells (febrile neutropenia)

The trial team concluded that irinotecan and cisplatin isn’t any better than paclitaxel and carboplatin as a treatment for clear cell ovarian cancer. 

We have based this summary on information from the research team. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (peer reviewed ) and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team who did the research. We have not analysed the data ourselves.