title: Combination of oral vinorelbine and capecitabine in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients previously exposed to anthracyclines: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vinorelbine and capecitabine are both active in breast cancer with moderate toxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pilot study conducted from December 2007 to January 2010 in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) to evaluate efficacy and safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included patients with MBC who were previously treated by anthracyclines either during the adjuvant phase or the metastatic phase. Patients were treated with oral vinorelbine (60 mg/m2) on day 1+8 and capecitabine (1000 mg/m2) twice daily (VC) from day 1 to day 14 with both repeated every 3 weeks until progression, refusal or for a maximum of 8 cycles. A dose reduction was made in case of grade 3 and 4 toxicities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 31 women (median age, 51 years), 12 cases were first-line therapy and 19 cases were second-line therapy or greater, and 30 were evaluable for response. Two patients (6.4%) achieved complete response and 15 patients (48.4%) had a partial response giving an overall response rate of 54.8% (95% CI, 42%-68%). Time- to-disease progression was 7.8 months for patients receiving VC as first-line therapy versus 6 months for patients receiving VC as second-line therapy or more, while median survival time was 22 months and 10 months for the two groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The oral VC regimen is effective and safe in patients with MBC previously exposed to anthracyclines, and offers a promising alternative to the intravenous route. Its role as a salvage therapy following anthracycline failure or as first-line chemotherapy requires further studies.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, Erfan Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. hassanv220000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Mahmoud M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Osman
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D005472:Fluorouracil