A Dose Escalation Study of Biweekly Oral Vinorelbine and Gemcitabine in Patients with Solid Tumors

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the maximum tolerated doses (MTDs) and the dose-limiting toxicities of a biweekly administration of oral vinorelbine and gemcitabine in patients with advanced solid tumors. Patients and Methods: Twenty-eight patients with advanced stage solid tumors were enrolled, and 12 (42.9%) of them were chemotherapy naive. Escalating doses of vinorelbine (50–70 mg/m² per os) and gemcitabine (800–1,000 mg/m² as a 30-min intravenous infusion) were administered on days 1 and 15 in 4-week cycles. Results: MTDs were reached at 70 mg/m² p.o. for vinorelbine and 900 mg/m² for gemcitabine. Grade 4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, grade 4 nausea/vomiting and treatment delay due to grade 3 neutropenia were the dose-limiting events during the first cycle of chemotherapy. A total of 94 chemotherapy cycles were administered with only one episode of febrile neutropenia and no toxic deaths. Severe (grade 3–4) neutropenia occurred in 10% of cycles while non-hematological toxicity was mild with grade 2–3 asthenia occurring in 17 (18%) cycles. Objective responses were achieved in patients with prostate and non-small cell lung cancer. Conclusions: The combination of biweekly oral vinorelbine (70 mg/m²) and gemcitabine (900 mg/m²) is a well-tolerated regimen with promising results in patients with advanced solid tumors.