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A Phase II trial of the combination of vinorelbine and capecitabine as second-line treatment in metastatic breast cancer previously treated with taxanes and/or anthracyclines

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Abstract

Purpose

Survival time for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) can be substantially improved by combination chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting. Capecitabine and vinorelbine have shown considerable efficacy and favourable toxicity as single agents. The aim of this study is to evaluate the response to the combination of capecitabine and vinorelbine as second-line treatment in patients previously treated with taxanes and/or anthracyclines.

Patients and methods

Thirty-nine patients with MBC, who received a combination of vinorelbine and capecitabine were included in the study.

Results

Overall response rate was 53.9% and disease progression rate was 28.2% for patients who received six cycles of therapy, rates significantly higher than the three-cycle group. The treatment was generally well tolerated and toxicity was mild.

Conclusions

The combination of capecitabine and vinorelbine as salvage therapy in anthracycline- and/or taxane-pre-treated patients with MBC seems to be effective and safe, even more so as the number of treatment cycles increases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1st Department of Medical Oncology, St Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece

    George Orphanos, Athanasios Alexopoulos, Savvoula Malliou, George Ioannidis, Alexandros Ardavanis, Constantinos Kandylis, John Stavrakakis & Gerassimos Rigatos

  2. Department of Oncology, Ygia Polyclinic, 21, Nafpliou str., 3035, Limassol, Cyprus

    George Orphanos

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  1. George Orphanos
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  2. Athanasios Alexopoulos
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  3. Savvoula Malliou
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  4. George Ioannidis
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  5. Alexandros Ardavanis
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Correspondence to George Orphanos.

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Orphanos, G., Alexopoulos, A., Malliou, S. et al. A Phase II trial of the combination of vinorelbine and capecitabine as second-line treatment in metastatic breast cancer previously treated with taxanes and/or anthracyclines. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 136, 115–121 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-009-0642-0

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