title: Phase II study of topotecan (NSC 609 699) in patients with recurrent or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New drugs are needed for treatment of unresectable or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. Topotecan, a semisynthetic derivative of the alkaloid, camptothecin, exerts its cytotoxic effect through inhibition of topoisomerase I.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma entered this phase II study of topotecan, administered at 1.5 mg/m2/day IV x 5 days every 3 weeks. All had measurable disease and none had received previous chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 3 partial responses (10.3%; 95% CI 2.2-27.4%) in 29 evaluable patients. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in 25 patients, and there was a 17% incidence of infection/neutropenic fever leading to one toxic death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topotecan, in this dose and schedule, has low activity in adult soft tissue sarcoma.
authors.affiliation: London Regional Cancer Centre, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: V H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Bramwell
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Eisenhauer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blackstein
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knowling
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jolivet
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bogues
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D019772:Topotecan
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan; D002166:Camptothecin