Haematological Evaluation of Weekly Therapy with Topotecan for the Treatment of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Resistant to Platinum-Based Therapy

Vol. 73, No. 3-4, 2007

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Clinical Study

Haematological Evaluation of Weekly Therapy with Topotecan for the Treatment of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Resistant to Platinum-Based Therapy
R. Largillier, B. Valenza, J.-M. Ferrero, C. Novo, A. Creisson, G. Lesbats, V. Mari, C. Hebert, E. Chamorey

Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France

Address of Corresponding Author

Oncology 2007;73:177-184 (DOI: 10.1159/000127384)

Key Words

Topotecan
Ovarian cancer

Abstract

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/m²/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/m² 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/m², for 3 weeks out of every 4, results in a better maintenance of dose density and a reduction in haematological toxicity.

Author Contacts

E. Chamorey
Centre Antoine Lacassagne, 33, Avenue de Valombrose
FR-06189 Nice, Cedex 2 (France)
Tel. +33 4 92 03 15 29, Fax +33 4 93 81 71 31
E-Mail emmanuel.chamorey@nice.fnclcc.fr

Article Information

Received: September 6, 2007
Accepted after revision: September 12, 2007
Published online: April 16, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 6, Number of References : 29

Medline Abstract (ID 18418010)

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