Authors' objectives:

This guide is about the use of the drug topotecan to treat advanced ovarian cancer in Scotland. Much of the information in this booklet comes from a leaflet published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence NICE) called 'Guidance on the use of topotecan for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer - Information for patients' (August 2001).

Authors' recommendations: HTBS supports NICE's recommendations that: - Topotecan should be considered as one of the treatment options for women with advanced ovarian cancer if firstline chemotherapy has not worked or if the cancer has stopped responding to the platinum based chemotherapy. - Topotecan is not recommended for women who have an ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) score of 3 or 4. ECOG is a scale used by doctors to assess the overall health and ability of the patient. 0 = fully active, the same as before having cancer 1 = unable to do strenuous activities but still able to do tasks such as light housework or office work 2 = able to walk and carry out self care (e.g. washing, dressing) but not able to work 3 = only able to carry out limited self care, mainly confined to bed 4 = completely confined to bed and not able to carry out self care - Topotecan is also not recommended for women who have an obstruction in their bowel (intestine) which is caused by the cancer or who have already been treated with topotecan or another drug of the same type. - Only oncologists who specialise in the use of chemotherapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer should supervise the use of topotecan. - A woman's response to the treatment should be monitored carefully. Treatment should be stopped if there is evidence that the cancer has progressed. If the patients health and ability gets worse (in line with the ECOG scale) stopping treatment should be considered.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.htbs.co.uk/publications/htaguides.asp?did=425

Year Published: 2001

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Scotland, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: Health Technology Board for Scotland

Contact Address: Delta House, 50 West Nile Street Glasgow G1 2NP Scotland United Kingdom Tel: +44 141 225 6988; Fax: +44 141 221 3262

Contact Name: shtg.hcis@nhs.net

Contact Email: shtg.hcis@nhs.net

Copyright: Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) (merged into NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS)