Abstract

Topotecan has demonstrated antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with ovarian carcinoma. This report examines the activity and toxicity of topotecan in 29 heavily pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube carcinoma. Topotecan 1.5 mg/m² was administered intravenously on days 1–5, every 21 days. It was second-line chemotherapy in 6 (20.7%) patients, third-line in 15 (51.7%), fourth-line in 4 (13.8%), fifth-line in 3 (10.3%), and seventh-line in 1 (3.4%). Median dose intensity was 1.667 mg/m²/week, and median relative dose intensity was 0.67. Disease complete response was observed in 5 (17.2%) patients, partial response in 1 (3.4%), stable disease in 12 (41.4%), and progressive disease in 11 (37.9%). CA-125 complete response was observed in 3 (10.3%) patients, partial response in 11 (37.9%), stable level in 5 (17.2%), and progressive level in 9 (31%), and no data were available in 1 (3.4%) patient. Toxicity was mainly hematologic: grade 3–4 neutropenia was observed in 20 (69%) patients, grade 3–4 leukopenia in 12 (41.4%), grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia in 9 (31%), and grade 3–4 anemia in 2 (6.9%). It is concluded that topotecan has considerable activity and noncumulative hematologic toxicity in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube carcinoma.