Navelbine and Capecitabine in the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer

• Not every patient will be receiving the same dose of capecitabine and navelbine. A small group will be enrolled onto the study and given certain doses of each drug. If they tolerate them well (have few or easily manageable side effects), the next small group of people enrolled will receive a higher dose of one of the drugs. This will continue until we find the highest doses of the drugs that can be given without causing serious or unmanageable side effects.
• Patients will be given oral navelbine on days 1 and 8 of each cycle, unless they are at the highest dose. In which case, they will be given navelbine on days 1, 8 and 15. Capecitabine will be given on days 1-14 of each cycle in two divided doses approximately 12 hours apart.
• While patients are on the study they will have the following tests and procedures performed: physical examination every 3 weeks; routine blood work every week; extensive laboratory tests every 3 weeks; disease status will be checked every 6 weeks (2 cycles) unless there are symptoms of disease progression.
• The weekly treatment will continue unless there is disease progression or unacceptable side effects.

Inclusion criteria

• Histologically confirmed breast cancer with evidence of locally advanced or metastatic disease
• Female patients age 18 or older
• No more than three prior chemotherapeutic regimens in the metastatic setting
• ANC > 1,500/mm3
• Platelet count > 100,000/mm3
• SGOT < 3 x ULN
• Bilirubin < 1.5 x ULN
• Performance status of 0 or 1
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy or 2 weeks since prior radiation, surgery or any anticancer investigational agent
• Able to swallow and retain oral medications
• Measurable disease

Exclusion criteria

• Prior vinca alkaloids
• Active gastrointestinal disease or disorder
• Pregnant or lactating
• Serious co-morbid medical or psychological condition
• Prior bone marrow or stem cell transplant
• Prior documented severe sensitivity to 5-FU