Review of current clinical experience with prolonged (oral) etoposide in cancer treatment

Prolonged oral etoposide monotherapy is an effective treatment in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and refractory malignant lymphoma. It shows remarkable activity in relapsed or refractory breast and ovarian cancer (response rates up to 35% and 26%), and was also active in refractory germ cell tumours. Results in small numbers of patients with haematological malignancies merit further investigation. There is considerable pharmacokinetic variability after oral etoposide administration and further investigations are needed to establish optimal dose. Side effects (in particular leucopenia and universal alopecia) should not be underestimated, especially in elderly bad risk patients.