Advice
Following a full submission
topotecan capsules (Hycamtin) are accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) for whom re-treatment with the first-line regimen is not considered appropriate.
The efficacy of topotecan capsules relative to standard IV chemotherapy is unknown.
Topotecan capsules are restricted to use in patients for whom standard intravenous chemotherapy is inappropriate and who would otherwise receive best supportive care.
In one study, oral topotecan plus best supportive care (BSC) was superior to BSC alone for the primary endpoint of median survival
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Medicine details
- Medicine name:
- topotecan hydrochloride (Hycamtin)
- SMC ID:
- 545/09
- Indication:
- Monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
- Pharmaceutical company
- GlaxoSmithKline UK Ltd
- BNF chapter
- Malignant disease and immunosuppression
- Submission type
- Full
- Status
- Superseded
- Date advice published
- 14 April 2009