M. Martin et al., Paclitaxel plus vinorelbine: An active regimen in metastatic breast cancerpatients with prior anthracycline exposure, ANN ONCOL, 11(1), 2000, pp. 85-89
Purpose: To evaluate the anti-tumour activity and tolerance of the combinat
ion of paclitaxel plus vinorelbine in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patien
ts previously treated with anthracyclines.
Patients and methods: Fifty-six MBC patients who have had at least one prev
ious anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimen were enrolled in this ph
ase II trial. Patients received paclitaxel (135 mg/m(2) over one-hour infus
ion) and vinorelbine (30 mg/m(2)) both on day 1 of each three-week course o
f therapy (maximum eight courses or until disease progression was evident).
Results: Six complete and nineteen partial responses were observed among th
e fifty-four assessable patients (response rate of 46%, 95% CI: 33%-60%). R
esponses were observed in all disease sites and in all subsets of patients.
The response rates when paclitaxel plus vinorelbine were used as first, se
cond and third-line chemotherapy for metastases were 67%, 41% and 35%, resp
ectively. The response rate among anthracycline-refractory patients was 46%
(6 of 13). Median time to progression in the overall patient group was 28
weeks. The main toxicities (CTC grade 2 or more) were alopecia, myelosuppre
ssion and peripheral neuropathy (85%, 46% and 19% of patients, respectively
). Nine patients (17%) had neutropenic fever in fifteen of the three hundre
d twenty-eight courses administered (5%).
Conclusions: The combination of paclitaxel and vinorelbine on day 1 every t
hree weeks is active in MBC patients with prior anthracycline exposure. The
regimen is safe, well tolerated and convenient for the patients.