title: Gemcitabine in combination with vinorelbine for heavily pretreated advanced breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the activity and toxicity of gemcitabine and vinorelbine in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), previously treated with anthracyclines alone or with taxanes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 86 pretreated patients with MBC (median age 62 years), entered the study. Thirty-six patients had been pretreated with anthracyclines and 8 were resistant. The combination of gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) and vinorelbine (25 mg/m2) was administered on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks, for a total of 6 cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 344 cycles of chemotherapy were administered (median 4 cycles per patient). Partial responses were observed in 31 patients (36.0%; 95% CI: 23-56). The median duration of response was 7 months (range 3-11 months) and the median overall survival was 14 months (range 6-21). The scheme was well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of vinorelbine and gemcitabine is an active scheme in pretreated MBC, demonstrating an acceptable toxicity profile, and may well represent a valuable therapeutic choice after anthracycline/taxane regimens.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Clinic, Department of Surgery, Areteion Hospital, University of Athens, Greece. gennatas@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gennatas
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Michalaki
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mouratidou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsavaris
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andreadis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Psychogios
authors.forename: Nikiforita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poulakaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine