title: Salvage chemotherapy with paclitaxel, vinorelbine, and cisplatin (PVC) in anthracycline-resistant advanced breast cancer.
abstract: The tolerance and the efficacy of the paclitaxel-vinorelbine-cisplatin combination (PVC regimen) was evaluated in 33 patients with anthracycline-resistant stage IV breast cancer, who had disease progression under anthracycline- or mitoxantrone-based chemotherapy. Fourteen (42%) and 19 (58%) patients had primary and secondary resistance to anthracyclines, respectively; 70% had visceral metastases. Patients received vinorelbine (25 mg/m2) followed by paclitaxel (135 mg/m2) in a 3-hour infusion on day 1, and cisplatin (CDDP; 80 mg/m2) on day 2, in a 3-week schedule. A total of 208 chemotherapy courses were administered (median six courses per patient). Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 13 patients (39%), seven of whom were hospitalized for neutropenic fever (5% of the courses). There was no toxic death. Grade 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in two patients (6%) and grade 3 anemia in three patients (9%). Grade 2 and 3 neurosensory toxicity occurred in 11 patients (32%) and two patients (6%), respectively, and grade 3/4 fatigue was observed in four patients (12%). Two (6%) complete and 17 partial responses (52%) (total, 58%; 95% confidence interval, 42%-75%) were documented. Stable disease was observed in eight patients (24%) and progression in six patients (18%). The median duration of response was 6.5+ months. The median survival was 15+ months, and the 1-year survival was 67%. In conclusion, PVC regimen is an active and well-tolerated salvage chemotherapy in patients resistant to anthracycline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kourousis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakolyris
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Androulakis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heras
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vlachonicolis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vamvakas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vlata
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hatzidaki
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samonis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Georgoulias
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D043823:Taxoids; D014747:Vinblastine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin