Phase II study of vinblastine in advanced refractory ovarian carcinoma

Fourteen patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma previously treated with chemotherapeutic agents including cisplatin were treated with vinblastine 0.1 mg/kg intravenously every week. There were no responses in 13 evaluable patients. The median survival was 19+ weeks following the initiation of vinblastine (VBL) therapy. Toxicity consisted of minimal myelo-suppression (WBC count less than 2500/microliter in 8/78 courses, WBC count less than 1500/microliter in 0/78 courses, platelets less than 150,000/microliter in 0/78 courses), nausea (4/13 patients), vomiting (2/13 patients), neuropathy (4/13 patients), and weakness and fatigue (6/13 and 5/13 patients, respectively). Although data derived from the human tumor stem cell assay (HTSCA) suggest that VBL may be an active agent against previously treated ovarian carcinoma, this study in patients with refractory advanced disease suggests that VBL is inactive (less than 20% response rate with 90% confidence levels) in that setting. Whether significant durable benefit can be achieved with VBL therapy in patients whose tumor is sensitive in the HTSCA remains to be seen.