Topotecan as single agent or in combination with carboplatin in pretreated and heavily pretreated patients with advanced ovarian cancer

We studied the tolerability and the activity of topotecan as single agent in 19 consecutive patients with advanced ovarian cancer, pretreated with at least one platinum-based chemotherapy. We also investigated topotecan in combination with carboplatin in 7 consecutive patients with the same characteristics. No grade 3-4 nonhematologic toxicities were observed. Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the most relevant side-effects, both in patients treated with topotecan alone and in patients treated with topotecan and carboplatin. An objective remission was documented in 27% of patients treated with topotecan and in 43% of patients treated with the combination regimen. Our experience confirms that topotecan is an active agent in pretreated advanced ovarian cancer patients, the limiting toxicity being represented by myelotoxicity.