Chemotherapy for Endometrial Cancer

Chemotherapy drugs are used to kill cancer cells. These drugs destroy cancer that is still left after surgery, shrink the tumor, slow the tumor’s growth, or reduce symptoms. Chemotherapy is not usually used to treat endometrial cancer. However, combinations of chemotherapy drugs are sometimes used after surgery to help make sure that all of the cancer cells have been killed.

The main chemotherapy drugs used to treat endometrial cancer are listed below.

• Adriamycin^® (doxorubicin) - Doxorubicin belongs to the group of chemotherapy drugs known as anthracycline antibiotics. Doxorubicin stops the growth of cancer cells, which kills them. This drug is given by a shot in a vein over about 15 minutes. The dose and how often you get the medicine depend on your size, your blood counts, how well your liver works, and the type of cancer being treated. Your blood counts will be checked before each treatment; if they are too low, your treatment will be delayed.
• Paraplatin ^® (carboplatin) - Carboplatin is a platinum chemotherapy drug that belongs to a group of drugs known as alkylating agents. It stops cancer cells from growing, which kills them. Carboplatin is given as an injection in the vein over 15 to 60 minutes. Your blood counts will be checked before each treatment; if they are too low, your treatment will be delayed. Carboplatin can also be injected slowly into a vein over 24 hours or directly into the peritoneal cavity in advanced ovarian cancer.
• Platinol ^® (cisplatin) - Cisplatin is a platinum compound chemotherapy drug that acts like an alkylating agent. It stops cancer cells from growing, which kills them. Cisplatin is given by an injection into the vein over at least 1 hour. Your dose depends on the type of cancer you have, your size, and how well your kidneys work.
• Taxol^® (paclitaxel) - Paclitaxel belongs to a group of chemotherapy drugs known as taxanes. It is also called a mitotic inhibitor because it affects cells during mitosis (cell division). It stops cells from dividing, which kills them. Paclitaxel is given by an injection into a vein, usually over a 3-hour period, every 3 weeks. Sometimes smaller doses are given once a week over shorter periods. The dose depends on your weight, how well your liver works, the side effects you have, and how often the medicine is given.
  

This content has been reviewed and approved by Myo Thant, MD.