Biweekly 72-hour 9-aminocamptothecin infusion as second-line therapy for ovarian carcinoma: phase II study of the New York Gynecologic Oncology Group and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the antitumor activity of the novel topoisomerase I inhibitor 9-aminocamptothecin (9-AC) given over 72 hours every 2 weeks in patients with ovarian carcinoma previously treated with one platinum-containing regimen.


METHODS
Patients with ovarian carcinoma who received one prior platinum-containing regimen were eligible. Patients were stratified based on whether their disease was measurable, or nonmeasurable but assessable. 9-AC 35 microg/m(2)/h was administered by continuous infusion for 72 hours every 2 weeks via ambulatory pump.


RESULTS
Sixty patients were entered, 32 with measurable and 28 with nonmeasurable but assessable disease. Ten (16.7%) of 60 patients responded (95% CI, 7.2% to 26.1%), with four complete responses and six partial remissions. The response rate for patients with measurable and nonmeasurable but assessable disease was 22% (95% CI, 7.6% to 36.2%) and 10.7% (95% CI, 2.3% to 28.2%), respectively. None of the responders were platinum-resistant. Nineteen patients (32%) had stable disease. The major toxicities were hematologic, with 25% of patients having grade 3 and 35% having grade 4 neutropenia, including five episodes of febrile neutropenia, 17% having grade 3 to 4 thrombocytopenia, and 27% having grade 3 to 4 anemia. Nonhematologic toxicity included grade 3 to 4 nausea (27%) and grade 3 to 4 vomiting (12%).


CONCLUSIONS
This phase II multicenter trial of biweekly 72 hour 9-AC infusion as second-line therapy for ovarian cancer demonstrates comparable activity to standard approved agents in patients with both measurable and nonmeasurable but assessable disease. Toxicity consists mainly of moderate but controllable myelosuppression. Further studies combining 9-AC with other agents active in ovarian cancer for use as second-line therapy are warranted.
Hochster
Howard
H
New York University School of Medicine, 160 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016, USA. howard.hochster@med.nyu.edu
Plimack
Elizabeth R
ER
Runowicz
Carolyn D
CD
Speyer
James
J
Wallach
Robert C
RC
Sorich
Joan
J
Mandeli
John
J
Wadler
Scott
S
Wright
John
J
Muggia
Franco M
FM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C080125:9-aminocamptothecin; D002166:Camptothecin