Ovarian Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ovarian Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

Haematological evaluation of weekly therapy with topotecan for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer resistant to platinum-based therapy.

Largillier R, Valenza B, Ferrero JM, Novo C, Creisson A, Lesbats G, Mari V, Hebert C, Chamorey E

Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France.

Topotecan is indicated in the treatment of advanced-stage ovarian cancers refractory to prior platinum-based regimen. The aim of this study was to compare the standard therapeutic strategy with a novel strategy of weekly administration of topotecan. The primary endpoints were dose density and overall tolerance. This retrospective cohort study included patients with ovarian cancer in relapse. During a first period (1998-2001), 24 patients received the standard topotecan dose of 1.5 mg/m(2)/day for 5 consecutive days with a 3-week interval between each treatment course. During a second period (2003-2006), 21 patients received a weekly topotecan dose of 4 mg/m(2) for 3 weeks out of every 4. Grades III and IV haematological toxicities were more frequent with the standard strategy (p < 0.05), even after adjustment of the prescription of erythropoietin and G-CSF. With the weekly strategy, an increase in dose density and a reduction in the number of delayed doses were observed. No significant difference between the 2 strategies was found in terms of response to the treatment and specific survival. This study suggests that the weekly administration of topotecan 4 mg/m(2), for 3 weeks out of every 4, results in a better maintenance of dose density and a reduction in haematological toxicity.

Published 30 April 2008 in Oncology, 73(3): 177-84.
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