Phase II study of prolonged oral etoposide in patients with ovarian cancer refractory to or relapsing within 12 months after platinum-containing chemotherapy.
METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with ovarian cancer refractory to or relapsing within 12 months after cisplatin-containing chemotherapy were treated with etoposide 50 mg/m2 daily for 21 days, followed by a 7-day break.


RESULTS
Of 25 evaluable patients, 4 achieved partial responses (16%, 95% confidence interval 5%-36%) of 4, 4, 7, and 10 months' duration. The platinum treatment-free intervals for these patients were 2, 9, 7, and 10 months, respectively. Etoposide in this schedule was generally well tolerated, with myelosuppression as the major toxicity, resulting in a median dose intensity over all cycles of 83% (range 47%-100%).


CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged oral etoposide is moderately active both in relapsed and platinum-refractory ovarian cancer, and a schedule of 50 mg/m2 days 1-21, every 4 weeks is fairly well tolerated in this usually heavily pretreated and elderly patient population.
de Wit
R
R
Department of Medical Oncology, Rotterdam Cancer Institute/Dr. Daniel den Hoed Kliniek, The Netherlands.
van der Burg
M E
ME
van den Gaast
A
A
Logmans
A
A
Stoter
G
G
Verweij
J
J
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin