Vinflunine is a substrate of CYP3A4, but lacking capacity for induction or inhibition of CYP-enzymes. However, side effects such as nausea and vomiting may be potentially porphyrinogenic through reduction in carbohydrate intake.

Vinflunine is a vinca alkaloid.

Vinflunine is indicated for the treatment of urotelial transitionepitelial cancer after platrinium therapy failure. Common side effects of vinflunine that can be confused with an acute porphyria attack are nausea, vomiting, obstipation, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Other common side effects are anorexia and infections.

Significant

Vinflunine is metabolized primarily by CYP3A4 (Ng 2011, Zhao 2007) while the only active metabolite, 4-O-deacetyl vinflunine (DVFL), is formed by multiple esterases (Campone 2011). Vinflunine and its metabolites are being excreted in faeces and in urine (Schutz 2011). The elimination half-life is 40 hours. In vitro studies indicate absence of capacity for induction or inhibition of any of the drug metabolizing CYPs (SPC). In clinical use there are no pharmacokinetic drug interactions observed with vinflunine as perpetrator.