A case of recurrent ovarian cancer markedly responding to daily oral administration of low dose etoposide

A 67-year-old woman with recurrent ovarian cancer, who had carcinomatous peritonitis and large abdominal cystic lesions, was treated by daily oral etoposide at a dose of 50 mg/day for 21 consecutive days at 2-week intervals in the outpatient department. After 15 days of administration, the serum level of CA125 decreased from 2,220U/ml to 445U/ml, and that of LDH from 2,725 WU to 906 WU. After the third course of treatment, the abdominal cystic lesions were remarkably reduced, and the performance status improved grade 1 from 3 prior to the administration. No severe side effects except for alopecia and mild myelosuppression were noted during the 3-month treatment.