Assessment of Treatment Outcomes and Pharmacological Adverse Effects in Women with Ovarian Cancer Undergoing Combination Chemotherapy. A Clinical Study

Abstract

Background: Ovarian cancer is among the top causes of death due to cancer in the gynecological system, and it is commonly detected at its advanced stages and treated through combination chemotherapy. Although platinum-based regimens have increased treatment response, their application has often been hampered by the presence of major pharmacological side effects that could affect therapeutic response and adherence.

Objective: To assess treatment outcomes and evaluate pharmacological adverse effects in women with ovarian cancer undergoing combination chemotherapy.

Methods: The present clinical trial was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at both Sandmen Provincial Hospital, Quetta, Pakistan, and Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, Pakistan, between February 2024 and August 2025. Non-probability consecutive sampling was used to include 70 women with a known history of ovarian cancer who were treated with combination chemotherapy. Clinical and radiological evaluation was used to assess treatment response, and adverse effects were recorded and graded based on standard clinical criteria. The analysis was done in SPSS version 26, and p < 0.05 was taken to be significant.

Results: The mean age of patients was 51.8 ± 10.2 years, with 62.9% presenting at advanced stages. In 28.6% of patients, complete response was observed, and in 40.0% percent, partial response was observed, which had an overall positive response rate of 68.6%. It was observed that 17.1% and 14.3% of patients experienced stable disease and progression, respectively. Alopecia (74.3%), nausea/vomiting (65.7%), neutropenia (57.1%), and anemia (48.6%) were the most frequent adverse reactions. Grade III–IV toxicity was observed in 25.7% of the patients and was strongly related to worse treatment outcomes (p = 0.021).

Conclusion: Combination chemotherapy demonstrates substantial effectiveness in ovarian cancer management; however, pharmacological adverse effects, particularly severe toxicities, significantly impact treatment outcomes. To maximize therapeutic efficacy and enhance patient quality of life, early identification and proper management of these adverse effects are crucial.