1. ¹Institut Sainte Catherine, BP 846, 1750 Chemin du Lavarin, 84082 Avignon Cedex 02, France
2. ²Northern Center for Cancer Treatment, Newcastle NE4 6BE, UK
3. ³Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG, UK
4. ⁴Centre François Baclesse, Caen 14076, France
5. ⁵Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield S10 2SJ, UK
6. ⁶Krankenhauss der Barmherzigen Bruder, Regensburg 93049, Germany
7. ⁷Klinik Fur Tumorbiologie, Freiburg 78106, Germany
8. ⁸Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre, Boulogne 92654, France

Correspondence: Dr D Serin, E-mail: d.serin@institut-ste-catherine.rss.fr

Revised 22 February 2005; Accepted 23 March 2005.

Abstract

The combination of intravenous (i.v.) vinorelbine and epirubicin is highly active in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In an effort to improve patient convenience, we investigated a regimen alternating i.v. and oral vinorelbine in combination with epirubicin as first-line chemotherapy of patients with MBC. In all, 49 patients with MBC received, as first-line treatment, a combination regimen consisting of i.v. vinorelbine 25 mg m^-2 plus epirubicin 90 mg m^-2 given on day 1, and oral vinorelbine 60 mg m^-2 on day 8 (or day 15 if neutrophils <1500 mm^-3) every 3 weeks, in an open-label, multicentre phase II study. Treatment was to be repeated for a maximum of six cycles. The study population had a median age of 55 years, half of the patients had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy and 86% presented a visceral involvement. In all, 25 responses were documented and validated by an independent panel review, yielding response rates of 51% (95% CI: 36–66) in the 49 enrolled patients and 54.5% (95% CI: 39–70) in the 44 evaluable patients. Median durations of progression-free survival and survival were 8 and 20 months, respectively. Neutropenia was the main dose-limiting toxicity, but complications were uncommon, four patients having experienced febrile neutropenia and six having developed neutropenic infection. Other frequently reported adverse events included stomatitis, nausea and vomiting, which were rarely severe. No toxic death was reported. Among patients who received six cycles, global score of quality of life remained stable. This regimen alternating oral and i.v. vinorelbine in combination with epirubicin is effective and safe. Oral vinorelbine on day 8 offers greater convenience to the patient, and decreases the need for i.v. injection and reduces time spent in hospital. Therefore, oral vinorelbine is a convenient alternative to the i.v. form in combination regimens commonly used to treat MBC.