Phase II study of vinorelbine with protracted fluorouracil infusion as a second- or third-line approach for advanced breast cancer patients previously treated with anthracyclines.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and activity of vinorelbine in association with protracted infusional fluorouracil in patients with advanced breast cancer who were previously treated with anthracycline-containing regimens.


METHODS
Eighty-three consecutive patients were entered onto the study. Forty-three patients experienced treatment failure or relapse after anthracycline-based, first-line chemotherapy for advanced disease and 29 experienced treatment failure or relapse after first- and second-line approaches; 11 patients experienced progressive disease within 6 months of completion of adjuvant anthracycline therapy. Sites of involvement were as follows: liver involvement, 42 patients (50.6%); lung 24 (28.9%); bone, 49 (59.0%); and skin/lymph nodes, 21 (25.3%). Treatment consisted of vinorelbine 30 mg/m(2) administered on days 1 and 15 every 28 days and fluorouracil 200 mg/m(2)/d given continuously over a 24-hour period.


RESULTS
Toxicity was recorded for 441 cycles. The scheme was well tolerated: grade 1/2 nausea/vomiting occurred in 13 patients (15.6%), grade 1/2 diarrhea in nine (10.8%), and grade 2/3 stomatitis in six (7.2%). Three patients (3.6%) experienced grade 3/4 leukopenia and four (4.8%) experienced grade 2/3 anemia. Grade 2/3 neurologic toxicity was observed in three cases (3.6%), and grade 2/3 hand-foot syndrome was observed in three (3.6%). The median relative dose-intensity was 92% and 100% for vinorelbine and fluorouracil, respectively. Six patients (7.2%) attained a complete clinical response and 45 (54.2%) attained a partial response, for an overall response rate of 61.4% (95% confidence interval, 50.9% to 71.9%). Twenty-one patients (25.3%) obtained disease stabilization, and 11 (13.3%) experienced disease progression. Median time to progression in responding patients was 15 months; median overall survival of the entire population was 22 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Vinorelbine associated with protracted infusional fluorouracil is an active and manageable scheme in advanced breast cancer patients previously treated with anthracyclines. The response obtained is durable.
Berruti
A
A
Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università di Torino, and Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni, Molinette, Torino, Italy.
Sperone
P
P
Bottini
A
A
Gorzegno
G
G
Lorusso
V
V
Brunelli
A
A
Botta
M
M
Tampellini
M
M
Donadio
M
M
Mancarella
S
S
De Lena
M
M
Alquati
P
P
Dogliotti
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D005472:Fluorouracil