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Biweekly administration of gemcitabine and vinorelbine as first line therapy in elderly advanced breast cancer

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Abstract

Background: Gemcitabine and Vinorelbine both as a single agent or associated are active in advanced breast cancer patients as second line therapy, with low toxicity. In the elderly patients polichemotherapy is difficult for co-morbidity, but results with monotherapy are fewer. The use of this association as first line could be of help. Patients and methods: Thirty-four patients over 65 were treated with 1000 mg/m2 of gemcitabine and 25 mg/m2 of vinorelbine on days 1 and 8 every 21 days. An analysis of toxicities, TTP and OS were performed. Results: The ORR was 53%: a CR was obtained in five patients (15%) and a PR in 13 patients (38%). Moreover, seven patients (21%) had a stable disease maintained for 6 months. The mean duration of CR and PR were, respectively, of 10 (range 7-19) and 7 (range: 4-14), months. Toxicity was low, mainly haematological: grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred only in 7 (20%) cases without febrile neutropenia. Conclusions: The gemcitabine and vinorelbine combination shows significant activity in elderly metastatic breast cancer patients. The treatment is well tolerated and has an acceptable toxicity profile.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Oncology “San Carlo” Hospital, Potenza, Italy

    Angelo Dinota, Domenico Bilancia, Rosangela Romano & Luigi Manzione

  2. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Carlo, Via Petrone 1, 85100, Potenza, Italy

    Angelo Dinota

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  1. Angelo Dinota
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  2. Domenico Bilancia
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  3. Rosangela Romano
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  4. Luigi Manzione
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Correspondence to Angelo Dinota.

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Dinota, A., Bilancia, D., Romano, R. et al. Biweekly administration of gemcitabine and vinorelbine as first line therapy in elderly advanced breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 89, 1–3 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-004-1000-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-004-1000-1

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