Twenty-six patients with far-advanced, refractory breast cancer were treated i.v. with vindesine (DVA) at a dose of 3 mg/m2 per wk. In 21 evaluable patients there were 6 partial remissions. Four patients who did not respond after at least 4 doses of intermittent DVA received continuous-infusion DVA at a dose of 1.5 mg/m2 per day .times. 2 every other week; none responded. Five of the 6 responders had disease progression on other vinca alkaloids. Leukopenia and neuromuscular toxicity were dose-limiting.