Prolonged oral etoposide in recurrent or advanced leiomyosarcoma of the uterus: A gynecologic oncology group study

Objective. In a previous study by the Gynecologic Oncology Group only modest activity was seen with bolus etoposide in leiomyosarcoma of the uterus (an 11% response rate). To exploit the schedule dependency of etoposide, which favors longer exposure, a Phase II trial of prolonged oral etoposide was conducted in this tumor. Methods. Eligibility included leiomyosarcoma of the uterus, measurable disease, one prior chemotherapy regimen which did not include etoposide, WBC greater than or equal to 3000/mu l, platelet count greater than or equal to 100,000/mu l, serum creatinine less than or equal to 2 mg%, and adequate hepatic function. The starting etoposide dose was 50 mg/m(2)/day (30-40 mg/m(2)/day for prior radiotherapy) as a single dose for 21 days, every 28 days. Based on toxicity, a dose escalation to a maximum etoposide dose of 60 mg/m2/day was prescribed. Results, Thirty-six patients were entered on this study; 34 were evaluable for toxicity and 29 were evaluable for response. A median of 2 courses were given (range 1-14), Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 20.6% and grade 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 5.8%, One patient developed acute myeloid leukemia 10 months after completing 7 cycles of therapy. Among the patients evaluable for response, 27 had received prior chemotherapy and 6 had received prior radiation therapy, Two partial responses (6.9%) were observed. Conclusion. This regimen has minimal activity as second-line chemotherapy in leiomyosarcoma of the uterus, No benefit to the chronic oral schedule is evident. (C) 1998 Academic Press.