A phase II trial of topotecan in patients with advanced, persistent, or recurrent endometrial carcinoma: A gynecologic oncology group study

Objective. To estimate the antitumor activity of topotecan in women with advanced, persistent, or recurrent endometrial carcinoma previously treated with chemotherapy, and to determine the nature and degree of toxicity of topotecan in this cohort of patients. Materials and methods. Eligible patients were those who had failed one prior chemotherapy regimen. Topotecan 0.5 to 1.5 mg/m² was administered iv daily for 5 days, every 3 weeks, until progression of disease or adverse affects prohibited further therapy. Results. Of 29 patients entered, 28 were evaluable for toxicity and 22 were evaluable for response. Patient characteristics included a median age of 65, with 41% having prior radiation and 14% having prior hormonal therapy. Nine patients (41%) had a performance status (PS) of 0, 11 (50%) had a PS of 1, and 2 (9%) had a PS of 2. Patients received from 2 to 11 (with a median of 4) courses of treatment. The most frequently observed grade 4 toxicities were neutropenia seen in 17 (61%) patients, leukopenia in 11 (39%), and thrombocytopenia in 7 (25%). Two deaths were considered potentially related to treatment. There was one (4.5%) complete and one (4.5%) partial response; 12 (55%) patients maintained stable disease and eight (36%) experienced increasing tumor. Conclusion. Topotecan at this dose and schedule does not appear to have major activity in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma previously treated with chemotherapy.