Topotecan adverse effects

A phase III study was conducted to compare PEG-liposomal DXR (50 mg/m2 every 4 weeks) with paclitaxel (175 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) using 214 patients with relapse after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy [420], As previously, the response rates and PFS were not significantly different, but again the liposomal formulation was notably less toxic as fewer patients recorded with grade 4 adverse effects (17% compared to 71% for topotecan) and thus was more tolerable. 

Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) consists of a humanized anti-CD33 monoclonal antibody conjugated to the cytotoxic enediyne antibiotic calicheamicin. It has been used to treat a subset of patients with acute myeloid leukemia in association with topotecan -I- cytarabine. Its most common adverse effects are myelosuppression, increased hepatic enzyme activity, infections, fever and chills, bleeding, nausea and vomiting, and dyspnea. 

Exatecan is a novel synthetic camptothecin derivative with a unique hexacyclic structure. It does not require metabolic activation, whereas irinotecan does. In vitro experiments in various cell lines have suggested that exatecan may be 6 and 28 times more active than SN-38 (7-ethyl-lO-hydroxycamptothecin, the active metabolite of irinotecan) and topotecan respectively. Furthermore, it has a 2-10 times higher therapeutic index than irinotecan and topotecan. In addition, exatecan may even be active in P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug-resistant tumor cells. Its dose-limiting adverse effects are neutropenia and liver dysfunction. The recommended dosages of exatecan for phase II trials are 0.5 mg/m /day or 0.3 mg/ m /day as a 30-minute infusion on 5 consecutive days for minimally pretreated and heavily pretreated patients respectively (14,15). 

Fatigue is a frequent adverse effect of topotecan and occurs in up to 70% of patients when they receive 1.5 mg/m /day (30-minute infusions) for 5 days repeated at day 22 however, only 10% have severe symptoms (4). Topotecan causes headache in some patients. 

Irinotecan is a prodrug that is converted mainly in the liver by the carboxylesterase enzyme to the SN-38 metabolite, which is 1000-fold more potent as an inhibitor of topoisomerase I than the parent compound. In contrast to topotecan, irinotecan and SN-38 are mainly eliminated in bile and feces, and dose reduction is required in the setting of liver dysfunction. Irinotecan was originally approved as second-line monotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had failed fluorouracil-based therapy. It is now approved as first-line therapy when used in combination with 5-FU and leucovorin. Myelosuppression and diarrhea are the two most common adverse events. There are two forms of diarrhea an early form that occurs within 24 hours after administration and is thought to be a cholinergic event effectively treated with atropine, and a late form that usually occurs 2-10 days after treatment. The late diarrhea can be severe, leading to significant electrolyte imbalance and dehydration in some cases. 

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