title: Pharmacokinetics and tolerance of vinorelbine in elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: 25 patients older than 65 years with metastatic breast cancer were treated with vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 i.v. days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks; the pharmacokinetics were studied in 10 of them. Vinorelbine showed a large apparent volume of distribution (mean 23.4 l/kg), a long terminal half-life (mean 26.2 h) and a large systemic clearance rate (mean 1.2 l/kg). These results are similar to those reported in younger patients. No correlation has been found between toxicity, age and drug exposure. We observed 6 partial responses out of 20 evaluable patients despite a relatively low mean dose intensity (67%). Severe neutropenia occurred in 37% of the patients; other side-effects were acceptable. This study does not provide a pharmacokinetic rationale for reducing the dosage of vinorelbine in selected elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano PN, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorio
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Robieux
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galligioni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freschi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Colussi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crivellari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saracchini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monfardini
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine