Vinorelbine monochemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer: experience in patients with low performance status

The aim of this study was to investigate the activity and safety of vinorelbine in patients with low performance status. From March 1992 to June 1993 we studied 14 untreated patients with Stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a "performance status" lower than 70% of the Karnofsky score. Treatment was by means of an intravenous administration of vinorelbine (30 mg.m-2) repeated weekly. On the whole, the toxicity was mild. Of 150 cycles administered, we observed 10 cases of Grade 3 leucopenia and 4 cases of Grade 4 leucopenia. A peripheral neurotoxicity (Grade 2-3) was reported in two patients. The objective response rate was 36% partial response. Our data suggest that vinorelbine could be an active and safe treatment for those patients who cannot receive polychemotherapy because of low performance status, and justify further larger studies comparing vinorelbine, either as a single agent or in combination, to other analogues or to assess its efficacy in supportive care.