OBJECTIVES:
Primary
* Determine the maximum tolerated dose of weekly topotecan in patients with progressive or recurrent ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cavity cancer and a poor performance status.
Secondary
* Estimate the response rate of women with poor performance status for use in future clinical trials.
OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study.
Patients receive topotecan intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Treatment repeats every 42 days for up to 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of topotecan until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. A total of 6 patients will be treated at the MTD.
Patients are followed periodically for up to 2 years.
