2.1 Recommended Dosage

In Combination with Cisplatin 100 mg/m2

• The recommended dose of vinorelbine is 25 mg/m2 administered as an intravenous injection or infusion over 6 to 10 minutes on Days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of a 28-day cycle in combination with cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on Day 1 only of each 28 day cycle.

In Combination with Cisplatin 120 mg/m2

• The recommended dose of vinorelbine is 30 mg/m2 administered as an intravenous injection or infusion over 6 to 10 minutes once a week in combination with cisplatin 120 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 29, then every 6 weeks.

  Single-Agent

• The recommended dose of vinorelbine is 30 mg/m2 administered intravenously over 6 to 10 minutes once a week.

2.2 Dosage Modifications

Myelosuppression

Hold or decrease the dose of vinorelbine in patients with decreased neutrophil counts according to the following schema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]:

Hepatic Impairment/Toxicity

Reduce vinorelbine dose in patients with elevated serum total bilirubin concentration according to the following schema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Use in Specific Populations (8.6)]:

Concurrent Myelosuppression and Hepatic Impairment/Toxicity

In patients with both myelosuppression and hepatic impairment/toxicity, administer the lower of the doses based on the corresponding starting dose of vinorelbine determined from the above schemas.

Neurologic Toxicity

Discontinue vinorelbine for Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Grade 2 or higher peripheral neuropathy or autonomic neuropathy causing constipation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].

2.3 Preparation and Administration

Preparation  

Dilute vinorelbine injection in an intravenous bag to a concentration between 0.5 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL. Use one of the following recommended solutions for dilution:

• 5% Dextrose Injection, USP
• 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP
• 0.45% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP
• 5% Dextrose and 0.45% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP
• Ringer's Injection, USP
• Lactated Ringer's Injection, USP

Stability and Storage Conditions of Diluted Solutions

Diluted vinorelbine injection may be used for up to 24 hours under normal room light when stored in polyvinyl chloride bags at 5° to 30°C (41° to 86°F).

Administration

Administer diluted vinorelbine injection over 6 to 10 minutes into the side port of a free-flowing intravenous line followed by flushing with at least 75 to 125 mL of one of the solutions.

Vinorelbine Injection must only be administered intravenously. It is extremely important that the intravenous needle or catheter be properly positioned before any vinorelbine is injected.

Parenteral drug products should be visually inspected for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit. If particulate matter is seen, vinorelbine injection should not be administered.

Management of Suspected Extravasation

If vinorelbine leakage into surrounding tissue occurs or is suspected, immediately stop administration of vinorelbine and initiate appropriate management measures in accordance with institutional policies [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

2.4 Procedures for Proper Handling and Disposal

Vinorelbine is a cytotoxic drug. Follow applicable special handling and disposal procedures1.

Exercise caution in handling and preparing the solution of vinorelbine injection. The use of gloves is recommended. If the solution of vinorelbine injection contacts the skin or mucosa, immediately wash the skin or mucosa thoroughly with soap and water.

Avoid contamination of the eye with vinorelbine injection. If exposure occurs, flush the eyes with water immediately and thoroughly.

Discard unused portion.

5.1 Myelosuppression

Myelosuppression, manifested by neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia, occur in patients receiving vinorelbine as a single agent and in combination with cisplatin [see Adverse Reactions (6.1 and 6.2)]. Neutropenia is the major dose-limiting toxicity with vinorelbine. Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia occurred in 53% of patients treated with vinorelbine at 30 mg/m2 per week. Dose adjustment due to myelosuppression occurred in 51% of patients (Study 2). In clinical trials with vinorelbine administered at 30 mg/m2 per week, neutropenia resulted in hospitalizations for pyrexia and/or sepsis in 8% of patients. Death due to sepsis occurred in 1% of patients. Neutropenia nadirs occur between 7 and 10 days after dosing with neutropenia count recovery usually occurring within the following 7 to 14 days.

Monitor complete blood counts prior to each dose of vinorelbine. Do not administer vinorelbine to patients with neutrophil counts < 1,000 cells/mm3. Adjustments in the dosage of vinorelbine should be based on neutrophil counts obtained on the day of treatment [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

5.2 Hepatic Toxicity

Drug-induced liver injury manifest by elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin occur in patients receiving vinorelbine as a single agent and in combination with cytotoxic agents. Assess hepatic function prior to initiation of vinorelbine and periodically during treatment. Reduce the dose of vinorelbine for patients who develop elevations in total bilirubin ≥2 times upper limit of normal [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].

5.3 Severe Constipation and Bowel Obstruction

Severe and fatal paralytic ileus, constipation, intestinal obstruction, necrosis, and perforation occur in patients receiving vinorelbine. Institute a prophylactic bowel regimen to mitigate potential constipation, bowel obstruction and/or paralytic ileus, considering adequate dietary fiber intake, hydration and routine use of stool softeners.

5.4 Extravasation and Tissue Injury

Extravasation of vinorelbine can result in severe irritation, local tissue necrosis and/or thrombophlebitis. If signs or symptoms of extravasation occur, immediately stop administration of vinorelbine and institute recommended management procedures [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Adverse Reaction (6.1)].

5.5 Neurologic Toxicity

Sensory and motor neuropathies, including severe neuropathies, occur in patients receiving vinorelbine. Monitor patients for new or worsening signs and symptoms of neuropathy, such as paresthesia, hyperesthesia, hyporeflexia and muscle weakness while receiving vinorelbine. Discontinue vinorelbine for CTCAE Grade 2 or greater neuropathy [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Adverse Reaction (6.1)].

5.6 Pulmonary Toxicity and Respiratory Failure

Pulmonary toxicity, including severe acute bronchospasm, interstitial pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occur in patients receiving vinorelbine. Interstitial pneumonitis and ARDS included fatalities. The mean time to onset of interstitial pneumonitis and ARDS after vinorelbine administration was one week (range 3 to 8 days) [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

Interrupt vinorelbine in patients who develop unexplained dyspnea or have any evidence of pulmonary toxicity. Permanently discontinue vinorelbine for confirmed interstitial pneumonitis or ARDS.

5.7 Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action, vinorelbine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. In animal reproduction studies in mice and rabbits, embryo and fetal toxicity were observed with administration of vinorelbine at doses approximately 0.33 and 0.18 times the human therapeutic dose, respectively.

Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with vinorelbine and for 6 months after the final dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with vinorelbine and for 3 months after the final dose [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.3)].

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under varying designs and in different patient populations, the adverse reaction rates reported in one clinical trial may not be easily compared to those rates reported in another clinical trial and may not reflect the rates actually observed in clinical practice.

Single Agent

The data below reflect exposure to vinorelbine as a single agent administered at a dose of 30 mg/m2 on a weekly basis to 365 patients enrolled in 3 controlled studies for metastatic NSCLC and advanced breast cancer. The population included 143 patients with previously untreated metastatic NSCLC (Study 3) who received a median of 8 doses of vinorelbine. The patients were aged 32 to 79 (median 61 years), 71% were male, 91% White, 48% had adenocarcinoma histology. The data also reflect exposure to vinorelbine in 222 patients with previously treated advanced breast cancer who received a median of 10 doses of vinorelbine. Vinorelbine is not indicated for the treatment of breast cancer.

Selected adverse reactions reported in these studies are provided in Tables 1 and 2. The most common adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 20%) of single agent vinorelbine were leukopenia, neutropenia, anemia, increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST), nausea, vomiting, constipation, asthenia, injection site reaction and peripheral neuropathy. The most common (greater than or equal to 5%) Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions were neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, increased total bilirubin, increased AST, injection site reaction and asthenia.

Approximately 49% of patients with NSCLC who were treated with vinorelbine experienced at least one dose reduction due to an adverse reaction.

Thirteen percent of patients discontinued vinorelbine due to adverse reactions. The most frequent adverse reactions leading to vinorelbine discontinuation were asthenia, dyspnea, nausea, constipation, anorexia, myasthenia and fever.

Myelosuppression: In clinical trials, Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 69%, 9% and 1%, respectively of patients receiving single agent vinorelbine. Neutropenia is the major dose-limiting toxicity.

Neurotoxicity: Neurotoxicity was most commonly manifested as constipation, paresthesia, hyperesthesia and hyporeflexia. Grade 3 and 4 neuropathy was observed in 1% of the patients receiving single agent vinorelbine.

Injection Site Reactions: Injection site reactions, including erythema, pain at injection site and vein discoloration, occurred in approximately one third of patients; 5% were severe. Phlebitis (chemical phlebitis) along the vein proximal to the site of injection was reported in 10% of patients.

Cardiovascular Toxicity: Chest pain occurred in 5% of patients; myocardial infarction occurred in less than 0.1% of patients.

Pulmonary Toxicity and Respiratory Failure: Dyspnea (shortness of breath) was reported in 3% of patients; it was severe in 2%. Interstitial pulmonary changes were documented.

Other: Hemorrhagic cystitis and the syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion were each reported in less than 1% of patients.

In Combination with Cisplatin

Table 3 presents the incidence of selected adverse reactions, occurring in greater than or equal to 10% of vinorelbine treated patients reported in a randomized trial comparing the combination of vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 administered every week of each 28-day cycle and cisplatin 100 mg/m2 administered on day 1 of each 28-day cycle versus cisplatin alone at the same dose and schedule in patients with previously untreated NSCLC (Study 1).

Patients randomized to vinorelbine plus cisplatin received a median of 3 cycles of treatment and those randomized to cisplatin alone received a median of 2 cycles of treatment. The incidence of Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was significantly higher in the vinorelbine plus cisplatin arm (82%) compared to the cisplatin alone arm (5%).

Thirty-five percent of the eligible patients in the combination arm required treatment discontinuation due to an adverse reaction compared to 19% in the cisplatin alone arm.

Four patients in the vinorelbine plus cisplatin arm died of neutropenic sepsis. Seven additional deaths were reported in the combination arm: 2 from cardiac ischemia, 1 cerebrovascular accident, 1 multisystem failure due to an overdose of vinorelbine, and 3 from febrile neutropenia.

Table 4 presents the incidence of selected adverse reactions, occurring in greater than or equal to 10% of vinorelbine treated patients reported in a randomized trial of vinorelbine plus cisplatin, vindesine plus cisplatin and vinorelbine as a single agent in patients with stage III or IV NSCLC who had not received prior chemotherapy. A total of 604 patients received either vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 every week plus cisplatin 120 mg/m2 on Day 1 and Day 29, then every 6 weeks thereafter (N=207), vindesine 3 mg/m2 for 6 weeks, then every other week thereafter plus cisplatin 120 mg/m2 on Days 1 and Day 29, then every 6 weeks thereafter (N=193) or vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 every week (N=204).

Patients randomized to vinorelbine plus cisplatin received a median of 15 weeks of treatment, vindesine plus cisplatin 12 weeks and vinorelbine received 13 weeks. Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was significantly greater in the vinorelbine plus cisplatin arm (78%) compared to vindesine plus cisplatin (48%) and vinorelbine as a single agent (53%). Neurotoxicity, including peripheral neuropathy and constipation, was reported in 44% (Grades 3 to 4, 7%) of the patients receiving vinorelbine plus cisplatin, 58% (Grades 3 to 4, 17%) of the patients receiving vindesine and cisplatin and 44% (Grades 3 to 4, 8.5%) of the patients receiving vinorelbine as a single agent.

Study discontinuation due to an adverse reaction was required in 27, 22 and 10% of the patients randomized to vinorelbine plus cisplatin, vindesine plus cisplatin and cisplatin alone arms, respectively.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of vinorelbine. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Infections: pneumonia

Immune system disorders: anaphylactic reaction, pruritus, urticaria, angioedema

Nervous system disorders: loss of deep tendon reflexes, muscular weakness, gait disturbance, headache

Ear and labyrinth disorders: vestibular disorder, hearing impaired

Cardiac disorders: tachycardia

Respiratory disorders: pulmonary edema

Vascular disorders: pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, hypertension, hypotension, flushing, vasodilatation

Gastrointestinal disorders: mucosal inflammation, dysphagia, pancreatitis

Skin disorders: generalized cutaneous reactions (rash), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: jaw pain, myalgia, arthralgia

General disorders and administration site conditions: injection site rash, urticaria, blistering, sloughing of skin

Injury, poisoning and procedural complications: radiation recall phenomenon, dermatitis, esophagitis

Laboratory abnormalities: electrolyte imbalance including hyponatremia

Other: tumor pain, back pain, abdominal pain

7.1 CYP3A Inhibitors

Exercise caution in patients concurrently taking drugs known to inhibit CYP3A. Concurrent administration of vinorelbine with a CYP3A inhibitor may cause an earlier onset and/or an increased severity of adverse reactions.

8.1 Pregnancy

Risk Summary

Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1)],

Vinorelbine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Available human data are insufficient to inform the drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies in mice and rabbits, embryo and fetal toxicity were observed with administration of vinorelbine at doses approximately 0.33 and 0.18 times the human therapeutic dose, respectively (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.

In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies are 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Data

Animal Data

In a mouse embryo-fetal development study, administration of a single dose of vinorelbine at a dose level of 9 mg/m2 or greater (approximately 0.33 times the recommended human dose based on body surface area) was embryotoxic and fetotoxic. Vinorelbine was embryotoxic and fetotoxic to pregnant rabbits when administered every 6 days during the period of organogenesis at doses of 5.5 mg/m2 (approximately 0.18 times the recommended human dose based on body surface area) or greater. At doses that did not cause maternal toxicity in either species, vinorelbine administration resulted in reduced fetal weight and delayed ossification.

8.2 Lactation

Risk Summary

There are no data on the presence of vinorelbine in human milk or its effects on the breastfed infant or on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants from vinorelbine, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with vinorelbine and for 9 days after the final dose.

8.3 Females and Males of Reproductive Potential

Pregnancy Testing

Verify pregnancy status in females of reproductive potential prior to initiating vinorelbine [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

Contraception

Females

Vinorelbine can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with vinorelbine and for 6 months after the final dose.

Males

Vinorelbine may damage spermatozoa [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)]. Advise males with female sexual partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with vinorelbine and for 3 months after the final dose.

Infertility

Males

Based on animal findings, vinorelbine may impair fertility in males [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].

8.4 Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of vinorelbine in pediatric patients have not been established.

Results from a single-arm study of vinorelbine administered at the dose of 33.75 mg/m2 (for 35 patients) or at the dose of 30 mg/m2 (for 11 patients) every week for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest were evaluated (courses of 8 weeks). Forty-six patients age 1 to 25 (median 11 years) with recurrent solid malignant tumors, including rhabdomyosarcoma or undifferentiated sarcoma (N=21 patients), neuroblastoma (N= 4 patients) and central nervous system (CNS) tumors (N=21 patients), were enrolled. The most significant grade 3 or 4 hematological adverse reactions were neutropenia (70%) and anemia (33%). The most significant grade 3 or 4 non-hematological adverse reactions were motor (15%) or cranial (13%) neuropathy, hypoxia (13%) and dyspnea (11%). Objective tumor response was observed in 2 out of 21 patients with rhabdomyosarcoma or undifferentiated sarcoma. No objective tumor response was observed in patients with CNS tumors (N=21) or neuroblastoma (N=4).

8.5 Geriatric Use

Of the 769 number of patients who received vinorelbine as a single agent and in combination with cisplatin in studies 1, 2 and 3, 247 patients were 65 years of age or older. No overall differences in safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetic parameters were observed between these patients and younger patients [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

8.6 Hepatic Impairment

The influence of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of vinorelbine has not been evaluated, but the liver plays an important role in the metabolism of vinorelbine. Elevated AST occur in greater than 60% of the patients receiving vinorelbine as a single agent  (6% Grade 3 to 4). Therefore, exercise caution in patients with hepatic impairment. Reduce the dose of vinorelbine for patients with elevated serum total bilirubin concentrations [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Vinorelbine is a vinca alkaloid that interferes with microtubule assembly. The antitumor activity of vinorelbine is thought to be due primarily to inhibition of mitosis at metaphase through its interaction with tubulin. Vinorelbine may also interfere with: 1) amino acid, cyclic AMP and glutathione metabolism, 2) calmodulin-dependent Ca++-transport ATPase activity, 3) cellular respiration, and 4) nucleic acid and lipid biosynthesis. Vinorelbine inhibited mitotic microtubule formation in intact mouse embryo tectal plates at a concentration of 2 µM inducing a blockade of cells at metaphase, but produced depolymerization of axonal microtubules at a concentration 40 µM, suggesting a modest selectivity of vinorelbine for mitotic microtubules.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of vinorelbine were studied in 49 patients who received doses of 30 mg/m2 administered as 15- to 20-minute constant-rate infusions. Vinorelbine concentrations in plasma decay in a triphasic manner.

Distribution

Steady-state volume of distribution (VSS) values range from 25.4 to 40.1 L/kg. Vinorelbine demonstrated high binding to human platelets and lymphocytes. The free fraction was approximately 0.11 in human plasma over a concentration range of 234 to 1169 ng/mL. The binding to plasma constituents in cancer patients ranged from 79.6% to 91.2%. Vinorelbine binding was not altered in the presence of cisplatin, fluorouracil, or doxorubicin.

Elimination

The terminal phase half-life averages 27.7 to 43.6 hours and the mean plasma clearance ranges from 0.97 to 1.26 L/hr/kg.

Metabolism

Vinorelbine undergoes substantial hepatic elimination in humans, with large amounts recovered in feces. Two metabolites of vinorelbine have been identified in human blood, plasma, and urine; vinorelbine N-oxide and deacetylvinorelbine. Deacetylvinorelbine has been demonstrated to be the primary metabolite of vinorelbine in humans and has been shown to possess antitumor activity similar to vinorelbine. Therapeutic doses of vinorelbine (30 mg/m2) yield very small, if any, quantifiable levels of either metabolite in blood or urine. The metabolism of vinorelbine is mediated by hepatic CYP3A.

Excretion

After intravenous administration of radioactive vinorelbine, approximately 18% and 46% of administered radioactivity was recovered in urine and feces, respectively. In a different study, 10.9% ± 0.7% of a 30 mg/m2 intravenous dose was excreted as parent drug in urine.

Specific Populations

Age has no effect on the pharmacokinetics (CL, VSS and t1/2) of vinorelbine.

Drug Interaction Studies

The pharmacokinetics of vinorelbine are not influenced by the concurrent administration of cisplatin.

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

The carcinogenic potential of vinorelbine has not been studied. Vinorelbine has been shown to affect chromosome number and possibly structure in vivo (polyploidy in bone marrow cells from Chinese hamsters and a positive micronucleus test in mice). It was not mutagenic in the Ames test and gave inconclusive results in the mouse lymphoma TK Locus assay.

Vinorelbine did not affect fertility to a statistically significant extent when administered to rats on either a once-weekly (9 mg/m2, approximately one third the human dose) or alternate-day schedule (4.2 mg/m2, approximately 0.14 times the human recommended dose) prior to and during mating. In male rats, administration of vinorelbine twice weekly for 13 or 26 weeks at dose levels of 2.1 and 7.2 mg/m2 (approximately 0.07 and 0.24 times the recommended human dose), respectively, resulted in decreased spermatogenesis and prostate/seminal vesicle secretion.

14.1 Combination Use with Cisplatin

The safety and efficacy of vinorelbine in combination with cisplatin was evaluated in two randomized, multicenter trials.

Cisplatin 100 mg/m2

Study 1 was a randomized, multicenter, open-label trial of vinorelbine plus cisplatin and cisplatin alone for the treatment of stage IV or stage IIIb NSCLC in patients with malignant pleural effusion or multiple lesions in more than one lobe of the ipsilateral lung who had not received prior chemotherapy. A total of 432 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on Day 1 then every week of each 28-day cycle plus cisplatin 100 mg/m2 administered on Day 1 of each 28-day cycle (N=214) or single agent cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on Day 1 of each 28-day cycle (N=218).

Patient demographics and disease characteristics were similar between arms. Of the overall study population, the median age was 64 (range 33 to 84), 66% were male, 80% were White, 92% had stage IV disease and 8% stage IIIB, 53% had adenocarcinoma, 21% squamous cell, 14% large cell histology. The major efficacy outcome measure was overall survival. The efficacy results are presented in Table 7 and Figure 1.

Figure 1: Overall Survival Vinorelbine /Cisplatin versus Single-Agent Cisplatin

Cisplatin 120 mg/m2

Study 2 was a randomized, 3-arm, open-label, multicenter trial of vinorelbine plus cisplatin, vindesine plus cisplatin and vinorelbine as a single agent for the treatment of patients with stage III or IV NSCLC who had not received prior chemotherapy. The study was conducted in Europe. A total of 612 patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 every week of a 6-week cycle plus cisplatin 120 mg/m2 on Day 1 and Day 29, then every 6 weeks thereafter (N=206); and vindesine 3 mg/m2 for 6 weeks, then every other week thereafter plus cisplatin 120 mg/m2 on Days 1 and Day 29, then every 6 weeks thereafter (N=200) or vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 every week of a 6-week cycle (N=206). The main efficacy outcome measure was to compare overall survival between vinorelbine plus cisplatin and vindesine plus cisplatin. The other efficacy outcome measure was to compare overall survival in the better of the two combination regimens to that of vinorelbine as a single agent.

Patient demographics were in general similar between arms: the median age of the overall population was 60 years (range 30 to 75), 90% were male, 78% had WHO performance status of 0 or 1. Tumor characteristics were in general similar with the exception of histologic subtype of NSCLC. Adenocarcinoma was the histologic subtype in 32% of patients in the vinorelbine plus cisplatin arm, 40% of patients in vindesine plus cisplatin arm and 28% of patients on the vinorelbine arm. Ten percent of the patients had stage IIIA disease, 28% stage IIIB and 50% stage IV. Twelve percent of the patients had received prior surgery or radiotherapy.

The efficacy results of Study 2 are presented in Table 8.

14.2 Single Agent

The safety and efficacy of vinorelbine as a single agent was evaluated in one randomized multi-center trial. Study 3 was a randomized, open-label clinical trial of vinorelbine or fluorouracil (FU) plus leucovorin (LV) in patients with Stage IV NSCLC who had not received prior chemotherapy A total of 211 patients were randomized 2:1 to receive vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 weekly of an 8-week cycle (N=143) or FU 425 mg/m2 bolus intravenously plus LV 20 mg/m2 bolus intravenously daily for 5 days of a 4-weeks cycle (N=68).

Patient demographics and disease characteristics were in general similar between arms. In the overall population, the median age was 61 years (range 32 to 83), 74% were male, 88% were White, 46% had adenocarcinoma histology. Fifty percent of the patients had Karnofsky performance status greater than or equal to 90 in the vinorelbine arm compared to 38% in the FU/LV arm.

The primary efficacy outcome of the study was overall survival. The median survival time was 30 weeks versus 22 weeks for patients receiving vinorelbine versus FU/LV, respectively (p=0.06). Partial objective responses were observed in 11.1% (95% CI=6.2%, 17.9%) and 3.5% (95% CI=0.4%, 11.9%) of patients who received vinorelbine and FU/LV, respectively.