The modulating effects of flurbiprofen on adriamycin plus vincristine or vindesine in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

To assess the modulating effects of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on chemotherapeutic agents, 183 patients with advanced breast cancer have been treated in a randomised study with flurbiprofen or placebo and adriamycin plus a vinca alkaloid. To assess the efficacy of the new vinca alkaloid, vindesine, in breast cancer, patients were further randomised to receive vindesine or vincristine. The overall response rate in evaluable patients was 57%, and the median duration of response in the different treatment groups varied from 6 to 10 months. Response rates and toxicity in vindesine- and vincristine-treated patients were similar, although with vindesine neurotoxicity was slightly lower. Flurbiprofen did not improve the response rate or reduce the toxicity of adriamycin plus vinca alkaloid.