Phase II study of vindesine in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Twenty-six patients with far-advanced, refractory breast cancer were treated iv with vindesine (DVA) at a dose of 3 mg/m2/week. In 21 evaluable patients there were six partial remissions. Four patients who did not respond after at least four doses of intermittent DVA received continuous-infusion DVA at a dose of 1.5 mg/m2/day X 2 every other week; none responded. Five of the six responders had had disease progression on other vinca alkaloids. Leukopenia and neuromuscular toxicity were dose-limiting.