Clinical study of navelbine plus paclitaxel for patients with advanced breast cancer / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Background and purpose:The mechanism of vinorelbine is inhibition of microtubule protein assembly and inducetion of the disaggreation of microtubles;where as docetaxed promotes the assembly of microtuble protein and inhibits normal physiological disaggreation of tubulin.We studied the curative effect and toxicity of combination of chemotherapy with navelbine(NVB) plus paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.Methods:Forty-two pathologically and cytologically proved cases of advanced breast cancer were treated with intravenous infusion of navelbine 25mg/m~2 on d1 and d8,paclitaxel 175mg/m~2 by 3-hour continuous infusion on d1.Interval between each cycle was 21 days and the clinical response and the toxicity were assessed after 2~4 cycles.Results:The overall response rate(RR) for the whole group of patients was 66.7% with 16.7% complete response(CR).In the first time chemotherapy patients,the RR was 72.2% with 27.2% CR;while in those with prior chemotherapy,an RR as high as 62.5% with 8.3% CR was also obtained.The 2-and 4-year survival rates was 40.5% and 21.4%,the median remission period was 8 months,the median overall survival duration was 18 months.The major side effects include leukopenia,hairloss,milieu phlebitis.Conclusions:The combination chemotherapy with navelbine and paclitaxel in treatment of advanced breast cancer is effective and the side effects could be tolerated.