[Oral etoposide therapy in stage III-IV ovarian carcinoma]

Seven patients with Stage III-IV ovarian carcinoma were treated with oral etoposide. The patients received a dose of 25 or 50 mg/day/body for every day or 21 consecutive days every one months. Four patients received this treatment as second line chemotherapy, two as initial chemotherapy and one as maintenance chemotherapy. One of 6 patients with measurable tumor had complete response, one had partial response and four had no changes. One patient with embryonal carcinoma, who received this treatment as maintenance chemotherapy is in no relapse for 2 years and 2 months. Leucopenia with a WBC under 3,000/mm3 was seen in 3 cases. Oral mucositis occurred in 2 cases, hair loss and gastrointestinal toxicities in 1 case. This method of oral administration is effective, tolerated and convenient for advanced ovarian carcinoma and recurrence following prior, vigorous chemotherapy in a outpatient clinic.