Oral Etoposide for Refractory or Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Thaovalai Thavaramara MD*, Siriwan Tangjitgamol MD*, Sumonmal Manusirivithaya MD*, Surawute Leelahakorn MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To study the response rate (RR), toxicity, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS)
of the patients with recurrent or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), who had oral etoposide at
dosage of 75 mg/day.
Material and Method: Patients with recurrent or refractory EOC who were treated with oral etoposide
between January 1998 and December 2007 were identified from the Archive of the Gynecologic Oncology
Unit of the institution. Clinical and pathological data were reviewed.
Results : During the present study period, 38 patients receiving oral etoposide were identified. Median age
was 51 years (range, 33-72 years). Seven patients could not tolerate chemotherapy side effects during the
first cycle, leaving 31 patients evaluable for response. The overall RR was 25.8% (8/31 patients), 19.4%
complete (6/31) and 6.4% partial responses (2/31). Stable diseases were demonstrated in 19.4% (6/31) while
progressive diseases were found in 54.8% (17/31). The median PFS was 4.8 months (range, 3.3-6.4 months)
with 2-year PFS of 16.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1-31.4%) while median OS was 12.0 months
(range, 0.75-25.5 months) and 2-year OS was 36.4% (95% CI, 17.4-55.3%). The main toxicity was
gastrointestinal side effect.
Conclusion : Oral etoposide at a daily dosage of 75 mg is an active agent for refractory or recurrent EOC.
Gastrointestinal symptom is the most common side effect. This oral chemotherapeutic agent has some
advantages over other drugs in terms of convenience for administration and fewer visits.
Keywords : Oral etoposide, Recurrent, Epithelial ovarian cancer
