Hycamtin

What is it?

A cytotnxic drug used in chemotherapy which is a Topoisomerase 1 inhibitor which inhibits the activity of an enzyme involved in the division and proliferation of cancer cells. Available as a powder in vials for reconstitution and injection, containing either 1mg or 4mg of topotecan.

Medical Uses

Ovarian cancer which has spread and which has not responded to other therapies.

Dosage

Women, 1.5mg per metre squared of body surface each day for 5 days, by intravenous infusion, given over a half hour period. To be repeated every 3 weeks for at least 4 courses of treatment.

Special Care

Liver or kidney disease; blood counts (for white blood cells) must be performed before and during treatment.

Avoid Use

Children, pregnancy, breastfeeding, patients with severely suppressed bone marrow function.

Known Side Effects

Anaemia, thrombocytopenia (a bleeding disorder caused by fall in blood platelets), neutropenia (decline in white blond cells called neutrophils), fatigue, weakness, malaise, gastrointestinal upset, baldness, pain in abdomen, nausea, mouth inflammation. All adverse side effects should be reported to the Committee on the Safety of Medicines (CSM).

Manufacturer

Merck.