title: Vinflunine for the treatment of breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the highest cause of cancer mortality in females worldwide. The development of drugs improving overall survival in late-stage metastatic breast cancer remains a challenge. Vinflunine is the most recently developed drug in the vinca alkaloid class. Its arrival has been eagerly awaited for treatment of solid tumors, and in particular, for metastatic breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pharmacological features of vinflunine are described. Its clinical development as monotherapy or in combination in metastatic breast cancer is detailed. A literature search on the topic was conducted through PubMed, clinical trials and the proceedings of the main cancer congresses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall results from phase III studies, and in particular those that combined vinflunine with capecitabine, have been less favorable. The combination's effectiveness was at best moderate compared with other drugs which also target metastatic breast cancer, and complicated by significant hematological and gastrointestinal adverse effects. Its use in advanced metastatic breast cancer cannot currently be recommended.
authors.affiliation: a Centre René Gauducheau, Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest , Boulevard Jacques Monod, Saint-Herblain , France.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gourmelon
authors.affiliation: b Centre Eugène Marquis , Boulevard de la Bataille Flandres-Dunkerque, Rennes , France.
authors.forename: Héloïse
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bourien
authors.affiliation: c Centre Paul Papin, Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest , 15 rue André Bocquel, Angers , France.
authors.forename: Paule
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Augereau
authors.affiliation: c Centre Paul Papin, Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest , 15 rue André Bocquel, Angers , France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patsouris
authors.affiliation: a Centre René Gauducheau, Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest , Boulevard Jacques Monod, Saint-Herblain , France.
authors.forename: Jean-Sébastien
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Frenel
authors.affiliation: a Centre René Gauducheau, Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest , Boulevard Jacques Monod, Saint-Herblain , France.|c Centre Paul Papin, Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest , 15 rue André Bocquel, Angers , France.|d UMR INSERM U892 , France.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campone
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069287:Capecitabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: C111217:vinflunine; D014747:Vinblastine; D000069287:Capecitabine
keywords: Capecitabine; metastatic breast cancer; vinca alkaloids; vinflunine