Vinorelbine, known by the brand name Navelbine, is a vinca alkaloid chemotherapy drug derived from the periwinkle plant. Vinca, or plant alkaloids, are semi-synthetic, meaning they are partially chemical and partially plant.<\/p>\n
Navelbine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in 1994. Over the past few decades, researchers have studied it as a viable chemotherapy drug for the treatment of mesothelioma<\/a>.<\/p>\n Studies have shown that Navelbine is not as effective in increasing survival rates and life expectancy<\/a> in comparison to pemetrexed-cisplatin treatments. However, researchers are looking at Navelbine as a potential line of treatment following a patient’s first round of therapy. There is some evidence that it can relieve pain and improve quality of life without shrinking tumor mass.<\/p>\n For these reasons, Navelbine is being studied as a palliative treatment (relieving pain without curing the illness) or maintenance treatment to extend a patient’s remission.<\/p>\n Download our Free Chemotherapy Guide<\/strong> to learn about the top cancer drugs for mesothelioma, what to expect, and how to manage side effects.<\/p>\n