BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of vinorelbine plus cisplatin (NP regimen) vs. gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP regimen) for treatment of metastatic TNBC after failure with anthracyclines and taxanes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 48 patients with metastatic TNBC that failed in anthracyclines and taxanes treatment were enrolled and randomly grouped. Patients in the NP group (n=22) were given 25 mg/m² vinorelbine on days 1 and 8 and 25 mg/m² cisplatin on days 2–4 of each 21-day cycle, while subjects in the GP group (n=26) were administered 1000 mg/m² gemcitabine on days 1 and 8 and 25 mg/m² cisplatin on days 2–4 of each 21-day cycle. The treatment response and adverse events were compared between the 2 groups every 2 cycles.

RESULTS: The ORR, DCR, and median TTP were 45.5%, 77.3%, and 5 months in the NP group, and 46.2%, 80.8%, and 5.2 months in the GP group, and no significant differences were observed in ORR, DCR, and median TTP between the 2 groups (P>0.05). The major adverse events included grade I–II bone marrow inhibition, gastrointestinal reactions, and phlebitis, and a lower incidence of thrombocytopenia and rash and a higher incidence of phlebitis was found in the NP group than in the GP group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Either NP or GP regimen is active and tolerated in treatment of metastatic TNBC with anthracyclines and/or taxanes resistance, which may be used as a salvage treatment for metastatic TNBC.

Keywords: Chemical Safety, Comparative Study, Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms