TOPOTECAN FOR CHILDREN WITH REFRACTORY LEUKEMIA, A PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY GROUP PHASE I COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT STUDY

OBJECTIVES:

I. Describe the qualitative and quantitative toxic effects, including acute and chronic dose-limiting toxicity, cumulative toxicity, and time to recovery, in pediatric patients with refractory leukemia who are treated with a 30-minute daily infusion of topotecan (TOPO) for up to 12 consecutive days every 3 weeks.

II. Estimate the maximum tolerated dose of TOPO that results in tolerable, predictable, and reversible toxicity.

III. Determine the precautions and supportive therapy that should be used and the clinical and laboratory studies needed to monitor or alter therapy to prevent unacceptable toxicity in these patients.

IV. Observe any antileukemic effects that may occur during this phase I study in which duration of treatment is increased from 7 to 9 and then 12 days and TOPO doses are escalated.