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[Acute pain due to vinorelbine]
J Cabrera Rodríguez1, J Muñoz García
1Servicio de Oncología, Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz.
Revista Clinica Espanola
|October 17, 1998
Summary
Vinorelbine, a chemotherapy drug, can cause pain at the tumor site in patients with head and neck cancers. This uncommon side effect, though not serious, often led patients to stop treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Head and neck cancers are often treated with chemotherapy.
- Vinorelbine is a cytostatic agent used in cancer therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document an unusual adverse effect of vinorelbine: pain at the tumor site.
- To assess the impact of this adverse effect on treatment continuation.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-seven patients with recurrent, inoperable head and neck epidermoid carcinomas were treated.
- Two chemotherapy regimens were used, both including vinorelbine.
- Patients received either mitomycin-c plus vinorelbine or carboplatin plus vinorelbine.
Main Results:
- Six patients experienced moderate to severe pain at the tumor location.
- One patient reported chest pain.
- Pain recurred upon re-administration of vinorelbine, leading all affected patients to discontinue therapy.
- No acute or chronic neurotoxicity was observed.
Conclusions:
- Vinorelbine can induce pain at the tumor site.
- This adverse effect, while not life-threatening, significantly impacts treatment adherence.
- Further investigation into managing this side effect is warranted.