Eribulin Versus Vinorelbine in Locally Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer
Posted: Monday, June 10, 2019
In a study of Chinese women with advanced breast cancer, eribulin monotherapy seems to improve progression-free survival rates compared with vinorelbine. However, overall survival rates were not statistically different, although the study was not powered for this endpoint. The phase III study findings, by Binghe Xu, MD, PhD, of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, and colleagues, were published in the European Journal of Cancer.
“To our knowledge, this is the second study in women with locally recurrent or [metastatic breast cancer] where eribulin has shown a statistically significant improvement in the primary efficacy outcome measure,” concluded the authors.
In this open-label, multicenter study, 530 Chinese women with previously treated, locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive either eribulin or vinorelbine. In both groups, a majority of patients had invasive ductal carcinoma or distant metastases (87.1% vs. 85.3% and 95.1% vs. 93.6% of patients, respectively).
Compared with patients in the vinorelbine group, the intention-to-treat analysis showed improved progression-free survival rates for patients in the eribulin group (P = .036). The median progression-free survival rates were 2.8 months for both groups, but the progression-free survival time ratio was 1.19 (P = .020). The overall response rate was 30.7% and 16.9%, respectively (P < .001). The mean progression-free survival rates were 4.4 months versus 3.7 months, respectively, according to an exploratory analysis.
Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events occurred less frequently with eribulin than with vinorelbine (7.2% vs. 14%). A total of 10 patients died of treatment-related adverse events (6 in the eribulin group and 4 in the vinorelbine group).
Disclosure: Although Dr. Xu reported no conflicts of interest, three coauthors are employees of Eisai Co., Ltd., Japan.
