title: Weekly schedule of vinorelbine in pretreated breast cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this phase II study, we explored tolerability and activity of vinorelbine administered according to a dose-dense weekly schedule with hematopoietic growth factor support in pretreated, advanced breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1994 to March 1996, 40 patients with metastatic breast cancer, pretreated with at least one prior anthracycline-containing regimen, were entered into the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  median age 53 years (range 32-70); ECOG performance status 0-1: 34 patients, 2: 6 patients; dominant visceral metastatic disease: 15 patients, dominant non-visceral: 25; anthracycline-refractory/resistant: 2 patients, sensitive: 38 patients. Six patients were treated as first-line therapy for metastatic disease and 34 in second- or subsequent lines. All patients received vinorelbine at the dose of 25 mg/m2/week as a short intravenous infusion, together with routine antiemetic medication. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (Lenograstim) at the dose of 150 microg/m2 subcutaneously on day 3 was included in the treatment schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median number of treatment weeks was 23 (range: 4-24), with a delivered dose-intensity (DDI) of 23.8 mg/m2/week (range: 18.7-25, 95.2% of projected dose-intensity). Toxicity was mild, with non-complicated neutropenia being the main toxicity observed (grade 3-4 in 25% of the patients but only 2% of treatment weeks). Overall response rate was 52.5%, with complete responses in 12.5% of patients. Median duration of the response and median time to progression were 10 and 9 months, respectively. Median overall survival was 19 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dose-dense weekly vinorelbine is safe and effective with minimal toxicity in pretreated advanced breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Service of Complementary Medical Oncology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nisticò
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garufi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: D'Ottavio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tropea
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marsella
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: D'Attino
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferraresi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Marco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terzoli
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078224:Lenograstim; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D014747:Vinblastine; D000078224:Lenograstim; D000077235:Vinorelbine