Clinical Study

British Journal of Cancer (2006) 95, 1161–1166. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6603347 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 10 October 2006

Vinflunine: a new active drug for second-line treatment of advanced breast cancer. Results of a phase II and pharmacokinetic study in patients progressing after first-line anthracycline/taxane-based chemotherapy

M Campone1, H Cortes-Funes2, D Vorobiof3, M Martin4, C F Slabber5, E Ciruelos2, E Bourbouloux1, C Mendiola2, F M Delgado6, C Colin6, V Aslanis6 and P Fumoleau1

  1. 1Centre René Gauducheau, 44805 Saint Herblain, France
  2. 2Hospital 12 de Octubre, 28041 Madrid, Spain
  3. 3Sandton Oncology Centre, Sandton, South Africa
  4. 4Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
  5. 5Pretoria Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
  6. 6Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre, 92654 Boulogne-Billancourt, France

Correspondence: Pr. P Fumoleau, Centre GF Leclerc, Département d'Oncologie Médicale, 1 rue du Pr. Marion 21079 DIJON Cedex, France. E-mail: pfumoleau@dijon.fnclcc.fr

Received 30 January 2006; Revised 17 July 2006; Accepted 24 July 2006; Published online 10 October 2006.

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Abstract

To evaluate the single agent activity, pharmacokinetics and tolerability of the novel tubulin targeted agent vinflunine (VFL) (320 mg m-2 q 21 days) as second-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma (MBC). All patients had disease progression after anthracycline/taxane (A/T) therapy. They could have received a nonanthracycline adjuvant treatment and subsequently received a first-line A/T combination for advanced/metastatic disease; or relapsed >6 months after completion of adjuvant A/T therapy and were subsequently treated with the alternative agent; or relapsed within 6 months from an adjuvant A/T combination. Objective response was documented in 18 of 60 patients enrolled (RR: 30% (95% confidence interval (CI): 18.9–43.2%)). Among the responders, seven patients had relapsed during a period of <3 months from taxane-based regimen yielding a RR of 33.3%. The median duration of response was 4.8 months (95% CI: 4.2–7.2), median progression-free survival was 3.7 months (95% CI: 2.8–4.2) and median overall survival was 14.3 months (95% CI: 9.2–19.6). The most frequent adverse event was neutropenia (grade 3 in 28.3% and grade 4 in 36.7% of patients). No febrile neutropenia was observed. Fatigue (grade 3 in 16.7% of patients) and constipation (grade 3 in 11.7% of patients) were also common; these were non-cumulative and manageable permitting achievement of a good relative dose intensity of 93.5%. Vinflunine is an active agent with acceptable tolerance in the management of MBC patients previously treated with (A/T)-based regimens. These encouraging phase II results warrant further investigation of this novel agent in combination with other active agents in this setting or in earlier stages of disease.

Keywords:

advanced breast cancer, vinflunine