title: Evaluation of topotecan in patients with recurrent for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. A phase II Southwest Oncology Group study.
abstract: Twenty-nine patients with persistent, recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated daily for five days at three-week intervals with topotecan 1.5 mg/m2. Four patients received prior chemotherapy, 23 prior surgery and 29 prior radiation therapy. Of the 29 eligible patients, 8 patients were not evaluable for response and were assumed to be non-responders. Of the remaining 21 evaluable patients, there were zero responses (0%, 95% confidence interval [0,.12]). The most common toxicities were myelosuppression, dyspnea and malaise/fatigue/lethargy. Topotecan has limited activity in advanced head and neck cancer with this dose and schedule.
authors.affiliation: Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ensley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019772:Topotecan
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan; D002166:Camptothecin