Navelbine

Navelbine is the brand name for vinorelbine tartrate, a semi-synthetic chemotherapy agent in the vinca alkaloid class. It is used to treat several solid tumors and is administered by intravenous infusion. In many countries it is approved primarily for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and for metastatic breast cancer, with use in additional tumors depending on local regulatory approvals. Vinorelbine works as a microtubule inhibitor, binding to tubulin and hindering microtubule formation, which disrupts mitotic spindle assembly and leads to cell cycle arrest and cell death.

In NSCLC, Navelbine is commonly given as a single agent in advanced disease or in combination with cisplatin in first-line regimens. In metastatic breast cancer, it is used after failure of other therapies or as part of specific combination regimens. Dosing and scheduling vary by indication and regimen, but administration is always intravenous and the drug is a vesicant, requiring careful handling and typically central venous access to reduce the risk of tissue irritation from accidental leakage.

Common adverse effects include bone marrow suppression (neutropenia and anemia), nausea, vomiting, mucositis, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, neuropathy, and alopecia. Elevations in liver enzymes and infections may occur, and hepatic impairment can affect drug clearance. Because of potential drug interactions, vinorelbine levels can be influenced by medications that affect hepatic metabolism. Pregnancy and breastfeeding should be avoided due to teratogenic risk. As with other chemotherapy agents, patients undergoing treatment with Navelbine require regular monitoring, including blood counts and liver function tests.

Navelbine is marketed by various pharmaceutical companies in different regions and has generic equivalents in many markets.