title: Efficacy of topotecan plus vincristine and doxorubicin in children with recurrent/refractory rhabdomyosarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigates the efficacy and the feasibility of a chemotherapy regimen with topotecan plus vincristine and doxorubicin (TVD) given on an individually tailored basis to patients with refractory/recurrent rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients received TVD therapy at relapse, and six were assessable for response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the six patients experienced objective response after two cycles of chemotherapy: one minor response, four partial response, and one complete response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The value of our study is severely limited by the small number of cases, the single-institutional setting and the individually tailored treatment, but we nonetheless confirmed the feasibility and tolerability of topotecan-based chemotherapy in RMS.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via G. Venezian, 1-20133 Milan, Italy. cristina.meazza@istitutotumori.mi.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meazza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zaffignani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luksch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podda
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Favini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Biassoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morosi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014750:Vincristine; D019772:Topotecan; D004317:Doxorubicin