Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a more convenient topotecan administration schedule in the second-line treatment of advanced platinum-refractory ovarian cancer.
Methods and materials: The Gynecologic Oncology Group conducted a Phase II trial of 24-h infusional topotecan (8.5 mg/m(2)), repeated every 3 weeks in 26 patients with platinum-refractory ovarian cancer (failure to respond to initial platinum-based treatment or development of recurrent disease within 6 months of completion of chemotherapy).
Results: Grade 4 neutropenia (85% of patients) and thrombocytopenia (12%) were the major toxicities encountered. Of the 25 patients evaluable for response, only a single patient experienced an objective response (4%).
Conclusions: When employed at this dose and schedule (24-h infusion every 3 weeks), topotecan has minimal second-line activity in platinum-refractory ovarian cancer.
Copyright 1999 Academic Press.