Topotecan, a soluble semisynthetic derivative of camptothecin, is a specifi
c inhibitor of topoisomerase I and is endowed of potent antiproliferative e
ffect in vitro and in vivo on tumoral cell lines as well as on endothelial
cells. Moreover, topotecan is able to interfere with the development of blo
od vessels in many in vivo experimental models. During the last years, seve
ral phase I clinical studies have demonstrated that the five-daily schedule
is the most effective for the treatment of neoplastic diseases of children
and adults, In particular, the best clinical results have been obtained in
patients affected by metastatic ovarian cancer, small cell (SCLC) and non-
small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), as well as mammary and gastrointestinal
neoplasms. High response rates have been observed in myelodysplastic syndro
mes and myeloma. The clinical effectiveness of topotecan has been also demo
nstrated in ovarian carcinoma, even after failure of first or second line c
hemotherapy and in SCLC, where the response rate is 39%, while the percenta
ge decreases up to 7% in case of drug resistance, with a median survival of
5.4 months. Toxicologic profile of topotecan is foreseeable and manageable
, and the most frequent and severe toxicity is represented by myelosuppress
ion. Leukopenia and neutropenia, which follow the administration of topotec
an, are non-cumulative and self-limiting and unfrequently complicated by in
fections, whereas non-hematologic toxicities are uncommon and generally of
mild-to-moderate degree. Topotecan is under continuous clinical evaluation
for the treatment of neoplasms other than those reported above, alone or in
combination with antineoplastic drugs in polychemotherapeutic protocols.