We assessed the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of continuous hepatic infusion of
vinblastine in the treatment of
breast cancer predominantly metastatic to the liver. Twenty-six patients previously treated with one or more chemotherapeutic regimens received
vinblastine at a dose of 2.0 mg/m2 daily for 5 days, via percutaneously inserted intra-arterial
catheters, at 3-4-week intervals. Nine of 25 evaluable patients (36%) achieved partial response and four (16%) had minor response. For responding patients, the median time to
disease progression was 21 weeks (range, 12-99), with a median survival of 11 months (range, 4-29) from the beginning of hepatic arterial infusion. The toxicity of the treatment was acceptable, and
drug-related effects were comparable to those seen in patients with
breast cancer treated by iv continuous infusion of
vinblastine at slightly lower doses. We observed two episodes of transient inappropriate
antidiuretic hormone secretion. Percutaneous hepatic arterial infusion of
vinblastine had significant activity in the treatment of
breast cancer metastatic to the liver.