Topotecan

• Drug Class: Topoisomerase I inhibitor; antineoplastic agent
• Indications:
  • Ovarian cancer (after failure of initial chemotherapy)
  • Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
  • Cervical cancer (in combination with cisplatin)
• Mechanism of Action:
  • Inhibits topoisomerase I, an enzyme essential for DNA replication
  • Causes DNA strand breaks and apoptosis in rapidly dividing tumor cells
• Formulations:
  • Intravenous: Powder or solution
  • Oral capsules: 0.25 mg and 1 mg
• Dosing Considerations:
  • Adjust for renal function
  • Monitor hematologic parameters closely due to risk of myelosuppression
• Common Adverse Effects:
  • Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Fatigue, alopecia
• Clinical Notes:
  • Often used after failure of first-line therapies
  • Requires careful infection monitoring due to immunosuppression

Synonyms

Hycamtin

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