Efficacy and safety of vinorelbine in heavily pretreated recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

Anticancer Drugs. 2016 Apr;27(4):349-52. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000333.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of vinorelbine as a single agent in the treatment of recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Patients were treated with oral or intravenous vinorelbine according to the pluridisciplinary tumor board's decision. Efficacy and safety outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-three patients were included in the study. Sixteen patients (69%) had received at least two previous lines of chemotherapy. The disease control rate was 19%. The median progression-free survival was 2.6 months and the median overall survival was 3.4 months. The rate of grade 3-4 side effects was low (13%). Only one patient discontinued treatment because of side effects. Vinorelbine seems to be a well-tolerated regimen in heavily pretreated patients. However, this regimen does not seem to be efficient enough to be recommended.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Vinblastine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vinblastine / therapeutic use
  • Vinorelbine

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Vinblastine
  • Vinorelbine