Advice
Following a full submission.
Topotecan (Hycamtin®) is not recommended for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) for whom re-treatment with the first-line regimen is not considered appropriate.
In a trial comparing oral topotecan plus active symptom control (ASC) to ASC alone the difference in median survival was 12 weeks, in favour of the oral topotecan plus ASC group. Topotecan is not available as an oral formulation in the UK, however in one trial the response rate and median survival duration were similar for oral and IV topotecan groups.
The treatment’s cost in relation to its health benefits was not sufficient to gain acceptance by SMC.
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Medicine details
- Medicine name:
- topotecan 1mg, 4mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion hydrochloride (Hycamtin)
- SMC ID:
- 366/07
- Indication:
- Relapsed small cell lung cancer
- Pharmaceutical company
- GlaxoSmithKline UK Ltd
- BNF chapter
- Malignant disease and immunosuppression
- Submission type
- Full
- Status
- Superseded
- Date advice published
- 07 May 2007