A Phase II trial of the combination of vinorelbine and capecitabine as second-line treatment in metastatic breast cancer previously treated with taxanes and/or anthracyclines.
OBJECTIVE
Survival time for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) can be substantially improved by combination chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting. Capecitabine and vinorelbine have shown considerable efficacy and favourable toxicity as single agents. The aim of this study is to evaluate the response to the combination of capecitabine and vinorelbine as second-line treatment in patients previously treated with taxanes and/or anthracyclines.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients with MBC, who received a combination of vinorelbine and capecitabine were included in the study.


RESULTS
Overall response rate was 53.9% and disease progression rate was 28.2% for patients who received six cycles of therapy, rates significantly higher than the three-cycle group. The treatment was generally well tolerated and toxicity was mild.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of capecitabine and vinorelbine as salvage therapy in anthracycline- and/or taxane-pre-treated patients with MBC seems to be effective and safe, even more so as the number of treatment cycles increases.
Orphanos
George
G
1st Department of Medical Oncology, St Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece. yiorgosorphanosvp@hotmail.com
Alexopoulos
Athanasios
A
Malliou
Savvoula
S
Ioannidis
George
G
Ardavanis
Alexandros
A
Kandylis
Constantinos
C
Stavrakakis
John
J
Rigatos
Gerassimos
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D018943:Anthracyclines; D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D005472:Fluorouracil