title: Vindesine in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma: a phase II study.
abstract: Vindesine, a new vinca alkaloid, has shown therapeutic activity in several human malignancies. A phase II study in 26 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus was performed. Sixty percent of these patients had received prior chemotherapy. The starting dose was 3.0 mg/m2, which was escalated by 0.5 mg/m2 to a maximum of 4.5 mg/m2. Treatment was given once weekly for 7 weeks and every other week thereafter. Twenty-three patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. One complete remission (3 months), three partial remissions (5, 4, and 2+ months), and two minor responses (1.5 and 1 month) were seen. The major toxic effects were peripheral neuropathy, leukopenia, fever and myalgias, and alopecia. There was one drug-related death from leukopenia and sepsis. Vindesine has demonstrated therapeutic activity in esophageal carcinoma. Further studies with this agent are indicated.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D014747:Vinblastine