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Vinorelbine, full name vinorelbine tartrate, is the generic name for the chemotherapy drug Navelbine.[1] It is of the class of chemotherapy drugs called plant alkaloids, specifically a “vinca alkaloid.” Like the name indicates, plant alkaloid drugs are synthesized from plants, including periwinkle. The drug interferes with cancer cells during division, preventing the formation of microtubules necessary to help the cell divide. As a result, the cell dies.[2]
Approved uses of vinorelbine include treatment for non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer. Patients are most-often prescribed a regimen of vinorelbine if they have been treated through a first round of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation and the cancer returns.[3] The treatment is especially common among cancer patients who have already had an extensive round of first-line treatment.[4]
The optimal regimen of second-line treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma is still being actively debated, and studies indicate that vinorelbine is one of the more viable options.[5],[6] There are a number of active trials exploring its use for second-line treatment of MPM in the US and the UK.[7],[8]
Vinorelbine can be administered through an IV, but it can also be taken orally in pill form. Both methods are considered equally effective for the treatment of neoplasms like breast cancer[9], so your doctor may recommend one method over the other based on your tolerance, condition, and personal preferences.
Side effects of vinorelbine include[10]:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Muscle, back, or joint pain
- Pain in the chest or abdomen
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Irritation at the injection site
- Poor reflexes
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Blood in the urine
- Difficulty breathing
- Mouth sores
[1] https://www.rxlist.com/navelbine-drug.htm#indications
[2] http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Navelbine.aspx
[3] https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/treating/chemotherapy/drugs-and-combination-regimens/individual-drugs/vinorelbine.html
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8075049
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24321581
[6] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2598493
[7] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02139904
[8] https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/a-trial-looking-at-vinorelbine-for-people-with-advanced-pleural-mesothelioma-vim
[9] https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/going-through-treatment-breast-cancer/chemotherapy/vinorelbine-navelbine
[10] https://www.rxlist.com/navelbine-side-effects-drug-center.htm
