A trial looking at nitrocamptothecin (RFS 2000) for advanced ovarian cancer

The research team found that nitrocamptothecin might help some women with advanced ovarian cancer.

The research team recruited 51 women with advanced ovarian cancer that had come back after platinum chemotherapy. All women had treatment with nitrocamptothecin.

When the researchers were analysing the results, they split the women into two groups depending on how quickly their cancer had come back after chemotherapy.

• In 23 women, the cancer had come back more than 12 months after platinum chemotherapy. The research team called this the ‘sensitive’ group
• In 28 women, the cancer had come back within 12 months of having platinum chemotherapy. The research team called this the ‘refractory’ group

In the sensitive group

• The cancer had got smaller in 4 women (a partial response )
• The cancer had stayed the same size in 13 women (stable disease )

In the refractory group

• No women had cancer that got smaller
• The cancer stayed the same size in 10 women

The most common side effect was diarrhoea. Other side effects included a drop in the number of blood cells, feeling or being sick, and tiredness (fatigue).

The research team suggested that nitrocamptothecin might be helpful in women who have advanced ovarian cancer that is sensitive to platinum chemotherapy.

We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (peer reviewed ) but may not have been published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.