[Postmarketing surveillance study on the use of topotecan in small-cell lung cancer. Use of topotecan in a pneumology university department].
BACKGROUND
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in France and Europe. Small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) represents 15-20% of cases. International standards of care recommend the use of first-line chemotherapy, which has a high response rate. However, tumour recurrence occurs after a variable disease-free period. If the first-line treatment cannot be repeated during the relapse, intravenous topotecan may be used according to its market authorization (MA).


METHODS
We report the first French postmarketing surveillance study on the use of topotecan in the SCLC.


RESULTS
Between August 2005 to December 2009, 26 SCLC patients received at least one cycle of intravenous topotecan in our department. All patients were treated in accordance with MA. Seventeen patients received this treatment as second line, as in the MA study, while nine patients where treated beyond the second line. In the first group, we showed that the anti-tumour efficiency of topotecan is similar to that observed in the MA study (24% response) while grade 3 to 4 haematological toxicities were less frequent. In the second group of patients, who could not have been included in the MA study, the tumour response rate was equal to 11% without an increase in severe toxicity compared to the first group. Specific or overall survival was not different between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides original public health data on the target population, the anti-tumor efficiency and the toxicity of topotecan in the treatment of SCLC.
Lunam université, Angers, France. johureaux@chu-angers.fr
J
J
Hureaux
C
C
Alizon
T
T
Urban
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D019772:Topotecan / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan