NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) should be administered in carefully adjusted doses by or under the supervision of a physician experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Patients treated with NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) should be frequently monitored for myelosuppression both during and after therapy. Granulocytopenia is dose-limiting. Granulocyte nadirs occur between 7 and 10 days after dosing with granulocyte count recovery usually within the following 7 to 14 days. Complete blood counts with differentials should be performed and results reviewed prior to administering each dose of NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) . NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) should not be administered to patients with granulocyte counts < 1,000 cells/mm³. Patients developing severe granulocytopenia should be monitored carefully for evidence of infection and/or fever. See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION for recommended dose adjustments for granulocytopenia. Acute shortness of breath and severe bronchospasm have been reported infrequently, following the administration of NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) and other vinca alkaloids, most commonly when the vinca alkaloid was used in combination with mitomycin. These adverse events may require treatment with supplemental oxygen, bronchodilators, and/or corticosteroids, particularly when there is pre-existing pulmonary dysfunction. Reported cases of interstitial pulmonary changes and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), most of which were fatal, occurred in patients treated with single-agent NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) . The mean time to onset of these symptoms after vinorelbine administration was 1 week (range 3 to 8 days). Patients with alterations in their baseline pulmonary symptoms or with new onset of dyspnea, cough, hypoxia, or other symptoms should be evaluated promptly.

NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) has been reported to cause severe constipation (e.g., Grade 3-4), paralytic ileus, intestinal obstruction, necrosis, and/or perforation. Some events have been fatal.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category D. NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) may cause fetal harm if administered to a pregnant woman. A single dose of vinorelbine has been shown to be embryo- and/or fetotoxic in mice and rabbits at doses of 9 mg/m² and 5.5 mg/m², respectively (one third and one sixth the human dose). At nonmaternotoxic doses, fetal weight was reduced and ossification was delayed. There are no studies in pregnant women. If NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant during therapy with NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) .

General

Most drug-related adverse events of NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) are reversible. If severe adverse events occur, NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) should be reduced in dosage or discontinued and appropriate corrective measures taken. Reinstitution of therapy with NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) should be carried out with caution and alertness as to possible recurrence of toxicity. NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) should be used with extreme caution in patients whose bone marrow reserve may have been compromised by prior irradiation or chemotherapy, or whose marrow function is recovering from the effects of previous chemotherapy (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION). Administration of NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) to patients with prior radiation therapy may result in radiation recall reactions (see ADVERSE REACTIONS and DRUG INTERACTIONS). Patients with a prior history or pre-existing neuropathy, regardless of etiology, should be monitored for new or worsening signs and symptoms of neuropathy while receiving NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) . Care must be taken to avoid contamination of the eye with concentrations of NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) used clinically. Severe irritation of the eye has been reported with accidental exposure to another vinca alkaloid. If exposure occurs, the eye should immediately be thoroughly flushed with water.

Laboratory Tests

Since dose-limiting clinical toxicity is the result of depression of the white blood cell count, it is imperative that complete blood counts with differentials be obtained and reviewed on the day of treatment prior to each dose of NAVELBINE (see ADVERSE REACTIONS: Hematologic).

Hepatic

There is no evidence that the toxicity of NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) is enhanced in patients with elevated liver enzymes. No data are available for patients with severe baseline cholestasis, but the liver plays an important role in the metabolism of NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) . Because clinical experience in patients with severe liver disease is limited, caution should be exercised when administering NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) to patients with severe hepatic injury or impairment (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

The carcinogenic potential of NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) 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. The significance of these or other short-term test results for human risk is unknown. 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 one seventh the human dose) prior to and during mating. However, biweekly administration for 13 or 26 weeks in the rat at 2.1 and 7.2 mg/m² (approximately one fifteenth and one fourth the human dose) resulted in decreased spermatogenesis and prostate/seminal vesicle secretion.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category D. See WARNINGS section.

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether the drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) , it is recommended that nursing be discontinued in women who are receiving therapy with NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) .

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness of NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) in pediatric patients have not been established. Data from a single-arm study in 46 patients with recurrent solid malignant tumors, including rhabdomyosarcoma/undifferentiated sarcoma, neuroblastoma, and CNS tumors, at doses similar to those used in adults, showed no meaningful clinical activity. Toxicities were similar to those reported in adults.

Geriatric Use

Of the total number of patients in North American clinical studies of IV NAVELBINE (vinorelbine tartrate) , approximately one third were 65 years of age or greater. No overall differences in effectiveness or safety were observed between these patients and younger adult patients. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger adult patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.

The pharmacokinetics of vinorelbine in elderly and younger adult patients are similar (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY).

Last reviewed on RxList: 12/17/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.