A multi-center phase II study of weekly topotecan as second-line therapy for small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the response rate, toxicity, failure free and overall survival of weekly topotecan in patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer who received one prior platinum based chemotherapy.


METHODS
Twenty two patients with relapsed disease after response to one prior chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy and patients with relapse more than 90 days after their last therapy received topotecan 4mg/m(2) intravenous over 30min on days 1,8,15; every 4 weeks (3 weeks on and 1 weeks off). Chemotherapy was given until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.


RESULTS
Of 22 patients, none of the patients responded to weekly topotecan therapy. Four patients had stable disease. After a median follow up of 1 year, median time to progression was 6 weeks and median survival was 5 months. The common toxicities associated with this regimen were anemia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, GI side effects and alopecia.


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly topotecan was well tolerated but ineffective in this trial. Although commonly used, weekly regimen of topotecan should be used with caution in relapsed SCLC.
Shah
Chirag
C
Department of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Regional Oncology Center, 750 E Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States. shahc@upstate.edu
Ready
Neal
N
Perry
Michel
M
Kirshner
Jeffrey
J
Gajra
Ajeet
A
Neuman
Nancy
N
Garziano
Stephen
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan; D002945:Cisplatin