A review of the antitumour activity of vinorelbine in breast cancer.

The use of vinorelbine 30 mg/m2/week as a single-agent treatment in advanced breast cancer has achieved response rates of > 20% as second-line treatment and 40 to 50% as first-line treatment. The major toxicity of the drug is reversible neutropenia; 35 to 50% of treated patients have grade IV neutropenia. The agent did not induce thrombocytopenia and proved mildly emetogenic and neurotoxic. Activity was confirmed in combination with fluorouracil or doxorubicin, when response rates ranging from 60 to 74% were achieved. Thus, vinorelbine appears to be a promising agent in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.