title: Salvage gemcitabine-vinorelbine chemotherapy in patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma pretreated with platinum-based chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Platinum-based chemotherapy is the recognized first-line treatment for metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However there is no standard second-line treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a gemcitabine and vinorelbine combination (GV) in patients with metastatic NPC previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 61 patients with metastatic NPC after prior platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled. Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) and vinorelbine (25mg/m(2)) were administered intravenously on Day 1 and Day 8 every 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, the overall response rate was 37.7% (95% CI, 25.5-49.9%) one complete response (1.6%) and 22 partial responses (36.1%). The median progression-free survival was 5.2 months (95% CI, 3.4-7.0 months) and the median overall survival was 14.1 months (95% CI, 11.1-17.1 months). Grade 3/4 toxicity including leucopenia (19.7%), neutropenia (18%), anemia (4.9%) and thrombocytopenia (6.5%) were tolerable. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated age and salvage treatment after failure of GV treatment were independently significant prognostic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary result shows gemcitabine and vinorelbine combination is effective and safe for the patients with advanced NPC pretreated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Further clinical study is warranted.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors: Cui
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Feng-hua
authors: FH
authors: Wang
authors: Zhi-qiang
authors: ZQ
authors: Wang
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: An
authors: Hui-yan
authors: HY
authors: Luo
authors: Le
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Yong-chang
authors: YC
authors: Chen
authors: Rui-hua
authors: RH
authors: Xu
authors: Yu-hong
authors: YH
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine