Altretamine is an effective palliative therapy of patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Management of patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer is difficult. Although several agents are active, responses are short-lived and observed in only a small number of patients. Side effects of these drugs are substantial. There is a need for more effective and less toxic therapies. Altretamine is a well tolerated oral agent with minimal toxicity. There are only a few trials evaluating its efficacy as a single agent in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.


METHODS
We prospectively studied patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who were able to take oral medication and had adequate bone marrow, liver and renal functions. All had been previously treated with at least one platinum-based chemotherapy regimen and had either relapsed or failed to achieve an adequate response.


RESULTS
Seventeen patients were studied. The commonest histological subtype was serous adenocarcinoma. Seven patients had platinum refractory disease. The mean duration of therapy was 6.1 months. Six patients (35%) achieved complete or partial remission, time to progression was 6.0 months and mean overall survival was 15.1 months. Toxicity was primarily nausea, vomiting and asthenia and was easily manageable.


CONCLUSIONS
Altretamine is an acceptable and apparently less toxic alternative to other cytotoxic drugs used for palliation of patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.
Malik
I A
IA
Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Karachi, Pakistan. malikia@ucmail.uc.edu
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010166:Palliative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005047:Etoposide; D019772:Topotecan; D017239:Paclitaxel