Topotecan: new preparation. No proven benefit.
Topotecan does not convincingly alter the grim prognosis of ovarian cancer in failure or relapse after treatment with platinum salts.  The only comparative trial has not yet been published; available results suggest that 20% of women had at least a partial response on topotecan, compared to 14% on paclitaxel (no statistically significant difference).  The place of paclitaxel in the treatment of ovarian cancer also remains to be determined, especially in combination with other drugs.  Like paclitaxel, topotecan has marked haematological and gastrointestinal toxicity: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomatitis.  Topotecan solution does not contain the solvent Cremophor EL degrees , contrary to paclitaxel solution.  It does not therefore require preliminary steroid administration, and does not prohibit the use of PVC-based infusion devices.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan; D017239:Paclitaxel