Biweekly administration of gemcitabine and vinorelbine as first line therapy in elderly advanced breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Gemcitabine and Vinorelbine both as a single agent or associated are active in advanced breast cancer patients as second line therapy, with low toxicity. In the elderly patients polichemotherapy is difficult for co-morbidity, but results with monotherapy are fewer. The use of this association as first line could be of help.


METHODS
Thirty-four patients over 65 were treated with 1000 mg/m2 of gemcitabine and 25 mg/m2 of vinorelbine on days 1 and 8 every 21 days. An analysis of toxicities, TTP and OS were performed.


RESULTS
The ORR was 53%: a CR was obtained in five patients (15%) and a PR in 13 patients (38%). Moreover, seven patients (21%) had a stable disease maintained for 6 months. The mean duration of CR and PR were, respectively, of 10 (range 7-19) and 7 (range: 4-14), months. Toxicity was low, mainly haematological: grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred only in 7 (20%) cases without febrile neutropenia.


CONCLUSIONS
The gemcitabine and vinorelbine combination shows significant activity in elderly metastatic breast cancer patients. The treatment is well tolerated and has an acceptable toxicity profile.
Dinota
Angelo
A
Medical Oncology, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza, Italy. dinota@yahoo.com
Bilancia
Domenico
D
Romano
Rosangela
R
Manzione
Luigi
L
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine