Oral etoposide is active against platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether etoposide (VP16) is more effective when administered on a chronic schedule, women with clinically defined platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) were studied.


METHODS
Thirty-one eligible women were treated with oral VP16. The first seven received a dose that varied depending on their body-surface area, but this proved too toxic, and so a fixed dose of 100 mg orally per day for 14 days every 3 weeks was used for the other subjects.


RESULTS
The response rate was 26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11% to 41%). The 28 women with cancer that had progressed while they were receiving a platinum analog had a response rate of 21% (95% CI, 6% to 36%). Response durations were short.


CONCLUSIONS
When administered on this chronic schedule, VP16 has activity against platinum-resistant EOC.
Hoskins
P J
PJ
Division of Medical Oncology and Gynecologic Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada.
Swenerton
K D
KD
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010984:Platinum / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010984:Platinum; D005047:Etoposide