LAUSR

I want to congratulate Torres and their colleagues [1] in which they investigated evaluated the efficacy and safety of the Vinorelbine/Capecitabine doublet (VINOCAP) in heavily pretreated HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients with vinorelbine 22.5 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 8 combined with capecitabine 1 g PO BID for 14 consecutive days of 21 day cycles. They concluded that VINOCAP appears to be an active and well-tolerated regimen in women with MBC, particularly as fourth or greater line of chemotherapy. Authors cited phase I and phase II clinical trials that used the combination of intravenous vinorelbine and capecitabine. Of note, among these, one study used oral vinorelbine instead of IV vinorelbine combined with capecitabine [2]. Furthermore, for many patients especially receiving third or fourth line chemotherapy, an active alloral combination chemotherapy regimen that avoids the need for intravenous treatment administration visits at the clinic might be preferable [3]. The results of two consecutive phase II studies may suggest that oral and iv vinorelbine, in combination with capecitabine, can achieve similar responses in patients with MBC refractory to anthra-taxane combinations [4]. Taken all together all-oral combination regimen such as oral vinorelbine plus capecitabine might be offered as an alternative to VINOCAP, particularly if patients wish to avoid frequent clinic visits for intravenous therapy administration. Funding Author has not received any grants.