Purpose: Combination of intravenous (i.v.) vinorelbine and docetaxel was shown to be feasible and effective in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In an effort to improve patient convenience, we investigated in first-line treatment a regimen alternating i.v. and oral vinorelbine in combination with docetaxel.
Patients and methods: Forty-nine patients (median age, 53 years) with MBC received a maximum of 6 cycles consisting of i.v. vinorelbine 20 mg/m(2) plus docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) given on day 1, and oral vinorelbine 60 mg/m(2) on day 15 every 3 weeks in an open-label, multicentre phase II study (recommended dose established in phase I study [1]).
Results: Sixty-three percent of the patient had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy and 78% presented visceral involvement. Twenty-four responses were documented and validated by an independent panel review, yielding response rates of 49% (95% CI: 34-64) in the 49 enrolled patients and 55.8% (95% CI: 40-71) in the 43 evaluable patients. Median duration of response was 9.4 months. Median progression-free survival and median overall survival were 5.5 and 33.2 months, respectively. Neutropenia was the main dose-limiting toxicity but complications were uncommon, four patients having experienced febrile neutropenia and one having developed neutropenic infection. Other frequently reported adverse events included alopecia, fatigue, stomatitis, constipation, diarrhoea and nausea, which were rarely severe.
Conclusions: This regimen alternating oral and i.v. vinorelbine in combination with docetaxel is effective and manageable. Vinorelbine i.v. per oral day 1 per day 15-docetaxel day 1 every 3 weeks represents a convenient option to combine docetaxel and vinorelbine for the palliative treatment of MBC.