[Improvement in quality of life with vinorelbine as a single agent in two patients with recurrent lung cancer].

Abstract

Two patients with lung cancer that recurred after surgery and chemotherapy were administered vinorelbine (20 mg/m2) as a single agent on days 1 and 8 every 4 weeks. Patient 1 had recurrences in both lung lobes and metastases in the bone and liver after surgery, while patient 2 had a recurrence in the left lung lobe and metastases in the brain and liver after prior chemotherapy. In both patients, vinorelbine treatment improved several clinical indicators of cancer symptomatology including serum LDH, levels of other clinical blood tests, as well as a subjective assessment of the quality of life (QOL). Both patients were discharged from the hospital and subsequently treated on an outpatient basis. Because recurrent lung cancer patients generally have a poor performance status, chemotherapy for these patients is thought to worsen the QOL and increase hospital stays. The present report suggests that vinorelbine, as a single agent, might improve the QOL and make it possible to treat recurrent lung cancer patients on an outpatient basis.

• Authors: M Asai, S Minami, K Komuta, T Kido
• Journal: Gan to kagaku ryoho. Cancer & chemotherapy (Gan To Kagaku Ryoho) Vol. 27 Issue 13 Pg. 2105-8 (Nov 2000) ISSN: 0385-0684 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 11103242 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Vinblastine
• Vinorelbine

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (drug therapy, secondary, surgery)
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (administration & dosage)
• Bone Neoplasms (secondary)
• Brain Neoplasms (secondary)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology, surgery)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (drug therapy)
• Quality of Life
• Vinblastine (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Vinorelbine