Review of the use of topotecan in ovarian carcinoma.
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women. The majority of patients present with advanced disease and relapse after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy; therefore, many proceed to treatment with salvage chemotherapy. Currently available treatment options are generally no longer curative in the relapse setting; hence, the emphasis of treatment is towards disease control and palliation of symptoms. There are several agents available for the treatment of relapsed ovarian carcinoma, of which topotecan is one of the most widely studied and characterised. This review aims to evaluate the role of topotecan in the management of this disease by considering the properties of the compound, the clinical efficacy in Phase II and III studies, its role in first- and second-line treatment and alternative dosing strategies to overcome toxicity.
Ahmad
Tanya
T
Royal Marsden Hospital, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK. Tanya.Ahmad@icr.ac.uk
Gore
Martin
M
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan