Vinorelbine and docetaxel as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a combination of vinorelbine (VNR) and docetaxel (DOC) as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

The study group comprised 40 women with untreated metastatic breast cancer with visceral (85%) and bone (70%) metastases. Of the 40 patients, 24 (60%) had previously received adjuvant chemotherapy, which had included anthracyclines in 12 patients (30%). Treatment consisted of VNR 25 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 5, and DOC 75 mg/m(2) on day 1 every 3 weeks. Depending on the neutrophil nadir (grade 3 or 4 neutropenia by WHO criteria) recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) 5 micro g/kg on days 2-4 and 6-13 was given for all subsequent treatment cycles.

The overall response rate (ORR) was 40% (95% confidence interval, CI 15-65). Six patients (15%) achieved a complete response (CR) and ten patients (25%) achieved a partial response (PR). Stable disease (SD) was observed in six patients (15%), and 18 patients (45%) had progressive disease (PD). The median duration of response was 8 months and the median predictive time to progression (TTP) was 6 months. The main toxicity was neutropenia grade 3 and 4 in 28 patients (70%). Febrile neutropenia requiring hospitalization occurred in 12 patients (30%). Grade 3 or 4 anemia was seen in two patients (5%) and grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was seen in one patient (2.5%). Severe nonhematologic toxicity, except alopecia, was uncommon and included stomatitis in two patients (5%), vomiting in two (5%) and diarrhea in one (2.5%). There were no treatment-related deaths.

The combination of VNR and DOC at the doses used in this study showed moderate activity as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer. Neutropenia was considerable despite G-CSF administration.