Treatment of neoplastic diseases with an improved oral preparation of vinblastine sulfate

An enteric-coated slowly disintegrating tablet of vinblastine sulfate was evaluated clinically in the treatment of 51 patients with neoplastic disease. Significant objective responses were obtained in 14 patients with malignant lymphomas, 6 patients with acute leukemia, 5 patients with malignant melanoma and 2 patients with metastatic carcinoma of the ovary. Side effects most frequently encountered were gastro-intestinal symptoms which were usually mild and temporary. Four patients developed leukopenia and 2 patients had panmarrow hypoplasia but in each case the bone-marrow depression was completely reversible. The enteric-coated oral tablets of vinblastine sulfate appear to be a therapeutically effective form of this drug.