21-DAY SCHEDULE ORAL ETOPOSIDE IN CHILDREN - A FEASIBILITY STUDY

To determine the feasibility and toxicity of prolonged oral etoposide in children, 22 patients with relapsed or refractory disease: were commenced on etoposide 50-100 mgs/m(2) per day for 21 days. A second course was administered after full blood count recovery, followed by disease reassessment. In total, 72 courses were evaluable for toxicity, with 10% of completed courses complicated by febrile neutropenia. 15 patients were evaluable for response, with 1 partial response, 10 stable disease and 4 progressive disease. This schedule was well tolerated with acceptable toxicity when doses of less than 80 mg/m(2)/day were administered and warrants further evaluation.