This is the first report that the combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin is feasible in a patient with recurrent ovarian cancer undergoing hemodialysis. Paclitaxel at a dose of 150 mg/m(2) was administered as a 3-h continuous i.v. infusion. Thirty minutes after paclitaxel administration, cisplatin was administered at a dose of 30 mg/m(2) for 30 min. Hemodialysis was started 30 min after completion of the cisplatin infusion and performed for 5 h. The maximum plasma concentrations of paclitaxel, total platinum and free platinum were 3.26, 2.44 and 1.84 microg/ml, respectively. The AUC of paclitaxel and free platinum were 15.3 and 1.76 microg x h/ml, respectively. The pelvic tumor size was reduced by 42% on MRI after the second course of this therapy. Grade IV neutropenia and grade III thrombopenia were observed. We conclude that paclitaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy is efficacious and feasible for an ovarian cancer patient under hemodialysis.