Authors' objectives:

To provide guidance on the use of topotecan for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer.

Authors' recommendations: Guidance 1.1 It is recommended that topotecan should be considered as one option for the second-line (or subsequent) treatment of women with advanced ovarian cancer where the disease is initially resistant or refractory to first-line platinum based combination therapy or has become resistant after successive courses of platinum based combination therapy. 1.2 Use of topotecan is not recommended in patients with poor performance status (ECOG 3 or worse), subacute or established bowel obstruction, or after previous exposure to topotecan or another drug in the same class. 1.3 Only oncologists specialising in the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer should undertake supervision of topotecan treatment in advanced ovarian cancer. 1.4 The use by oncologists of topotecan in this indication should be accompanied by ongoing audit of its use, with careful documentation of indications for treatment, clinical outcomes and adverse effects. 1.5 Treatment response should be monitored by appropriate tumour markers (e.g. CA-125) and/or appropriate radiological techniques. Patients with serological or radiological evidence of disease progression should stop treatment. Deteriorating performance status should also prompt consideration of treatment withdrawal.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.nice.org.uk/cat.asp?c=18677

Year Published: 2001

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Contact Address: MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NA, UK. Tel: +44 020 7067 5800; Fax: +44 020 7067 5801

Contact Name: nice@nice.nhs.uk

Contact Email: nice@nice.nhs.uk

Copyright: National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)