[Acute pain due to vinorelbine]

To report the presence of an uncommon adverse effect, pain in the tumor location, during the administration of the cytostatic agent vinorelbine.

Twenty-seven patients with non operable relapses of epidermoid carcinomas of the head and neck were treated with two combinations of cytostatics: mitomycin-c 10 mg/m2 on day 1 plus vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 in twelve patients or carboplatin 300 mg/m2 on day 1 plus vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 in fifteen patients.

Six patients had moderate/severe pain in the tumor location; concomitantly, one patient had chest pain. Four patients required major opiates. The clinical picture reverted and no patient had acute or chronic neurotoxicity. The readministration of vinorelbine triggered pain again, and all patients refused to continue the therapeutic program.

Vinorelbine can cause pain at tumor location, a nonserious adverse effect which, nevertheless, prevented the continuation of therapy.