Phase II study of vinorelbine in the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this phase II study was to evaluate on an intent-to-treat basis the activity and toxicity of single-agent vinorelbine (VRL) as second-line chemotherapy of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Platinum-resistant disease was defined as disease refractory to or relapsing within 12 months after finishing platinum-containing chemotherapy.


METHODS
VRL (30 mg/m(2)) was administered intravenously as a bolus injection days 1 and 8 every 21 days. Initially, four courses of VRL were given. Patients with responding or stable disease received four more courses of VRL to a maximum of eight courses.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight of 33 eligible patients were considered evaluable for response. The overall response rate was 21% (7/33) (95% CI: 7--35). Median time to progression was 3.1 months and median survival was 10.1 months. Toxicity was generally mild. Leukopenia was the dose-limiting toxicity. CALGB grade III/IV infection was observed in 15/0% of patients. The most important nonhematologic toxicities were nausea and constipation. Grade III/IV nausea was observed in 6/0% and grade III/IV constipation in 3/3% of patients. Peripheral neurotoxicity was only a minor problem with no grade III/IV toxicity. No patients stopped treatment because of toxicity and no toxic death was reported.


CONCLUSIONS
VRL was generally well tolerated, but the activity in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer was only modest, although fully comparable to other second-line treatments. Further studies are required to define the role of VRL in combination chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.
Sørensen
P
P
Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark. peso@dadlnet.dk
Høyer
M
M
Jakobsen
A
A
Malmström
H
H
Havsteen
H
H
Bertelsen
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006585:Altretamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D006585:Altretamine