VINORELBINE - A NEW PROMISING DRUG IN HODGKINS-DISEASE

Vinorelbine is a new semisyntetic vinca alkaloid that differs chemical ly from vinblastine by a substitution of the catharanthine moiety. The powerful cytostatic activity of vinorelbine against murine tumors, hu man malignant cell lines and human tumor xenografts in nude mice has b een demonstrated. Phase I-II studies of intravenous vinorelbine, admin istered weekly as single agent or in combination chemotherapy have bee n conducted since 1986. Results suggest that vinorelbine has high acti vity in non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer and cisplatin-resist ant ovarian cancer with mild toxicity, beeing neutropenia the major tr eatment related complication. In this paper we critically review the a ctivity of vinorelbine in pretreated Hodgkin's patients. Available res ults strongly suggest the inclusion of this drug in first or second li ne chemotherapy regimens in Hodgkin's disease.