A phase II trial of vinorelbine in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Forty patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) were treated weekly with vinorelbine 30 mg/m2. Thirty-five patients received prior surgery, 20 prior chemotherapy, and 38 prior radiation therapy. Five patients were not evaluable for response and were assumed to be nonresponders. There were three confirmed responders (one complete response, two partial responses) for a response rate of 7.5% (95% confidence interval, 1.6%-20.4%). The median survival time for all patients was 5 months (range, 0.5-50 months), the median progression-free survival time was 2 months (range, 1-49 months). The most common toxicity was myelosuppression, with 60% of patients experiencing grade 3 or higher leukopenia. There was one treatment-related death resulting from sepsis. Vinorelbine has minimal activity in patients with SCCHN that does not exceed that of other currently used agents.
Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5260, USA.
S
S
Saxman
B
B
Mann
V
V
Canfield
P
P
Loehrer
E
E
Vokes
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine