title: Gemcitabine and oral vinorelbine as salvage treatment in patients with advanced anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite progress achieved with new chemotherapeutic and endocrine agents, advanced breast cancer (ABC) remains a disease with poor prognosis. We sought to determine the efficacy of gemcitabine (GC) and oral vinorelbine (VB) in heavily preatreated ABC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes in the metastatic setting with progressive disease were eligible. Treatment consisted of VB (60 mg/m2, orally) and GC (1000 mg/m2, intravenous infusion), every two weeks of a 28- day cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one patients with ABC were enrolled. Toxicity was acceptable, mainly haematological. Three and 8 patients achieved a complete (9.6%) and partial (25.8%) response, respectively; ten patients (32.2%) had stable disease. Median time-to-progression was 5.3 months, while in responders 8.6 months. Median overall survival was 14 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral VB and GC is an active and well-tolerated combination in anthracycline/taxane-pretreated ABC, representing an interesting option in this poor prognosis group of patients.
authors: First Department of Medical Oncology, Ag. Savvas Anticancer Hospital, Athens, Greece. ardavanis@yahoo.com
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ardavanis
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Kountourakis
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Maliou
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vassilakopoulou
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Basioukas
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Kyriakou
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Koumna
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Rigatos
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use; 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; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D043823:Taxoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine