title: Phase II evaluation of topotecan in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. A Southwest Oncology Group trial (SWOG 9241).
abstract: The topoisomerase-1 inhibitor, topotecan, was tested in 48 eligible patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The patients had no prior chemotherapy and a Southwest Oncology Group performance status of 0-2. Topotecan was administered intravenously at 1.5 mg/m2/day for five days and repeated every 21 days. The major toxicity was hematologic with 19 out of 48 (40%) patients having grade IV granulocytopenia and 4 out of 48 (8%) patients demonstrating grade IV thrombocytopenia. Two patients (4%) demonstrated partial response. Thirty patients have died and the Kaplan-Meier estimate of median survival is 9 months (95% confidence interval; 7-16 months). Topotecan in this dose and schedule does not appear active in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Modiano
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Alberts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan