Background
Phase II trials suggest that prolonged intravenous (IV) infusion of the topoisomerase-1 inhibitor topotecan may be less toxic than when given by standard IV bolus 5-day administration. Oxaliplatin exhibits efficacy in platinum- pretreated disease and shows preclinical synergy with topoisomerase-I inhibitors. We sought to determine the efficacy and safety of oxaliplatin plus infusion topotecan in recurrent platinum-pretreated ovarian cancer.
Methods
Patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers previously treated with 1–2 prior regimens including a platinum and taxane received oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2 day 1, 15) and topotecan (0.4 mg/m2/day) by continuous IV infusion over 14 days every 4 weeks. The primary objective of the trial was to estimate the objective response rate in platinum-resistant disease (stratum I) and in platinum-sensitive disease (stratum II). Toxicities were assessed in all patients.
Results
Thirty-eight patients received 144 cycles of therapy (median 4, range 1–6). The most common grade 3/4 toxicities included thrombocytopenia (37% grade 3, 19% grade 4), neutropenia (37% grade 3, 11% grade 4) and anemia (15% grade 3). Response occurred in 4 of 19 patients in stratum I (21%, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 6%, 46%) and 9 of 19 patients in stratum II (47%, 95% CI 24%, 71%). Three in each stratum had lengthy complete responses.
Conclusions
Biweekly oxaliplatin plus a 14-day continuous IV infusion of topotecan, given monthly, is an active regimen in platinum-pretreated ovarian cancer and merits additional evaluation.