Weekly topotecan in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate weekly topotecan in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.


METHODS
The records of patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who were treated with weekly topotecan after failure of > or =1 prior regimen were reviewed. Patients received topotecan (median starting dose approximately 2.5 mg/m(2)) on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Antitumor response was assessed after 2 cycles by serial CA-125 levels.


RESULTS
Thirty-five heavily pretreated patients received a mean of 5 cycles of topotecan (range, 1-13 cycles). Thirty-two patients had definable platinum sensitivity (16 sensitive, 8 resistant, 8 refractory). Median age was 56 years. A total of 177 cycles (534 weeks) of topotecan was administered. Hematologic toxicity was generally mild, and no grade 4 toxicities were observed. Grade 3 hematologic toxicity, including leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia, was observed in 2, 2, 1, and 0 patients, respectively. No patients experienced grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicity. Based on serial CA-125 measurements, there were 1 (3%) complete and 5 (15%) partial responses, with 1 of the partial responses in a patient with platinum-refractory disease. Stable disease was reported in 13 (38%) patients, including 5 patients with platinum-resistant/refractory disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly topotecan demonstrates activity and is well tolerated compared with historical data with the standard 5-day schedule. Higher doses may be warranted because of the high tolerability shown for weekly topotecan. Weekly topotecan may be an appropriate treatment option for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, especially heavily pretreated patients who might require dosing schedules with improved tolerability.
O'Malley
David M
DM
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208063, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. david.omalley@yale.edu
Azodi
Masoud
M
Makkenchery
Anita
A
Tangir
Jacob
J
McAlpine
Jessica
J
Kelly
Michael
M
Schwartz
Peter
P
Rutherford
Thomas
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan