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Velban: Full Drug Profile

Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026

Velban - General Information

Antitumor alkaloid isolated from Vinca rosea. (Merck, 11th ed.)

 

Pharmacology of Velban

Velban is a vinca alkaloid antineoplastic agent. The vinca alkaloids are structurally similar compounds comprised of 2 multiringed units: vindoline and catharanthine. The vinca alkaloids have become clinically useful since the discovery of their antitumour properties in 1959. Initially, extracts of the periwinkle plant (Catharanthus roseus) were investigated because of putative hypoglycemic properties, but were noted to cause marrow suppression in rats and antileukemic effects in vitro. Velban has some immunosuppressant effect. The vinca alkaloids are considered to be cell cycle phase-specific.

 

Velban for patients

The patient should be warned to report immediately the appearance of sore throat, fever, chills, or sore mouth. Advice should be given to avoid constipation, and the patient should be made aware that alopecia may occur and that jaw pain and pain in the organs containing tumor tissue may occur. The latter is thought possibly to result from swelling of tumor tissue during its response to treatment. Scalp hair will regrow to its pretreatment extent even with continued treatment with vinblastine sulfate. Nausea and vomiting, although not common, may occur. Any other serious medical event should be reported to the physician.

 

Velban Interactions

Vinblastine sulfate should not be diluted with solvents that raise or lower the pH of the resulting solution from between 3.5 and 5. Solutions should be made with normal saline (with or without preservative) and should not be combined in the same container with any other chemical. Unused portions of the remaining solutions that do not contain preservatives should be discarded immediately.

The simultaneous oral or intravenous administration of phenytoin and antineoplastic chemotherapy combinations that included vinblastine sulfate has been reported to have reduced blood levels of the anticonvulsant and to have increased seizure activity. Dosage adjustment should be based on serial blood level monitoring. The contribution of vinblastine sulfate to this interaction is not certain. The interaction may result from either reduced absorption of phenytoin or an increase in the rate of its metabolism and elimination.

Caution should be exercised in patients concurrently taking drugs known to inhibit drug metabolism by hepatic cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in the CYP 3A subfamily, or in patients with hepatic dysfunction. Concurrent administration of vinblastine sulfate with an inhibitor of this metabolic pathway (such as erythromycin, doxorubicin, or etoposide) may cause an earlier onset and/or an increased severity of side effects.

 

Velban Contraindications

Vinblastine sulfate is contraindicated in patients who have significant granulocytopenia unless this is a result of the disease being treated. It should not be used in the presence of bacterial infection. Such infections must be brought under control prior to the initiation of therapy with vinblastine sulfate.

 

Additional information about Velban

Velban Indication

For treatment of breast cancer, testicular cancer, lymphomas, neuroblastoma, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, mycosis fungoides, histiocytosis, and Kaposi's sarcoma.

Mechanism Of Action
The antitumor activity of vinblastine is thought to be due primarily to inhibition of mitosis at metaphase through its interaction with tubulin. Velban binds to the microtubular proteins of the mitotic spindle, leading to crystallization of the microtubule and mitotic arrest or cell death.
Generic Name
Vinblastine
Drug Category
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
Drug Type
Small Molecule; Approved
Other Brand Names containing Vinblastine
Nincaluicolflastine; Rozevin; Velban; Velbe; Vinblastin; Vinblastina [Dcit]; Vinblastine Sulfate; Vinblastinum [Inn-Latin]; Vincaleucoblastin; Vincaleucoblastine; Vincaleukoblastine; Vincoblastine;
Toxicity (Overdose)
Oral, mouse: LD50 = 423 mg/kg; Oral, rat: LD50 = 305 mg/kg.
Protein Binding
98-99%
Biotransformation
Hepatic. Metabolism of vinblastine has been shown to be mediated by hepatic cytochrome P450 3A isoenzymes.
Half Life
Triphasic: 35 min, 53 min, and 19 hours
Dosage Forms of Velban
Solution Intravenous
Chemical Formula
C46H58N4O9
Organisms Affected
Humans and other mammals