VINDESINE IN THE TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY BREAST-CANCER - IMPROVEMENT IN THERAPEUTIC INDEX WITH CONTINUOUS 5-DAY INFUSION

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (9-10) , 775-779
Abstract
Sixty patients with metastatic breast cancer refractory to prior doxorubicin combinations were randomized by performance status, dominant disease site and number of involved organ sites to receive vindesine as a bolus injection of 3-4 mg/m2 i.v. every 10-14 days or as a continuous 5-day infusion of 1-1.2 mg/m2 per day every 21 days. There were 2 patients with partial responses (7%) and 6 with stable disease among the 26 evaluable patients who received bolus injections. Of the 25 evaluable patients who received continuous infusions, 7 achieved a partial response (28%) and 11 had stable disease (0.001 < P < 0.005). Thirteen patients, after failing to respond to bolus vindesine, were given continuous infusions. Of these, 11 were evaluable and 4 had partial responses (36%). Responses were seen in all organ sites of involvement, with response duration ranging from 2-9+ mo. Side effects included nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, constipation, neuropathy, fever and myelo suppression. Except for myelosuppressin, which was more evident with the continuous infusion schedule, no significant difference was seen in the frequency of side effects encountered with the 2 schedules. There apparently is an improved therapeutic index for vindesine when it is given as a continuous 5-day infusion.