Pharmacokinetics and tolerance of vinorelbine in elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer.
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.
Sorio
R
R
Division of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano PN, Italy.
Robieux
I
I
Galligioni
E
E
Freschi
A
A
Colussi
A M
AM
Crivellari
D
D
Saracchini
S
S
Monfardini
S
S
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
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine