title: Mitomycin C in combination with vinorelbine in anthracycline- and/or taxane-pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with disease progression after anthracycline-and/or taxane-containing therapy need an effective drug regimen with low toxicity. Mitomycin C (MMC) and vinorelbine (VNR) are suitable candidates for combination therapy in the second-/third-line treatment of MBC. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of an MMC/VNR combination chemotherapy in pretreated patients with MBC.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a phase II trial, patients with anthracycline-and/or taxane-pretreated MBC were treated with MMC 8 mg/m(2) (day 1) and VNR 25 mg/m(2) (days 1 and 8) every 4 weeks for up to 6 cycles or until disease progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 51 eligible patients, 13 (26%) partial remissions (PRs), 20 (39%) stable diseases (SDs) and 18 (35%) progressive diseases (PDs) were observed. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.0 months. The main grade 3/4 toxicities were neutrocytopenia (41%), granulocytopenia (37%), and thrombocytopenia (4%). Other hematological and non-hematological toxicities were mostly mild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of MMC and VNR is an effective and relatively well-tolerated regimen for anthracycline- and/or taxane-pretreated patients with MBC and is suitable for outpatient therapy.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Cordula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schippert
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warm
authors.forename: Jens-Uwe
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Blohmer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: du Bois
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lück
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; C080625:taxane; D016685:Mitomycin; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine