The University of Nebraska Medical Center department of obstetrics and gynecology, in conjuction with SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, is conducting a study on Topotecan, an FDA approved drug currently being used to intravenously treat ovarian cancer patients. The study will seek to determine how an oral preparation of Topotecan compares to the intravenous form as far as side effects and tumor response.
UNMC health care professionals involved in the study include Dr. David McIntosh, chief of section of gynecologic oncology, Dr. McClure Smith, gynecologic oncologist, and Lynne Anderson, clinical nurse specialist.
Qualifying patients must have had a recurrence of ovarian cancer that persists despite treatment, Anderson said. Once selected, all participants will take oral Topotecan once a day before breakfast for five days. Participants may remain at home during the study. Currently, patients must come to the cancer center for five days while being treated with Topotecan intraveneously.
Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Each year, 26,000 new cases are reported resulting in 15,000 deaths. Overall, the five- year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 39 percent.
“At this point, we consider a drug for ovarian cancer successful if the tumor responds,” Anderson said. “With Topotecan, there is about a 20 percent positive response rate with the tumor either totally going away, getting smaller, or staying the same.”
Anderson added that with all the medications for ovarian cancer, at some time, the cancer cells become resistant and start growing cells again. All current standard treatments for ovarian cancer have the side effect of a low blood count.
UNMC is the only center in the area participating in the study. To participate, contact the gynecological oncology section at UNMC at (402) 559-5068.