Dermatological toxicity of ixabepilone

Abstract

Ixabepilone is a new class of non-taxane microtubule-stabilizing agents. These agents bind tubulin, stabilize microtubules and, thus, block mitosis and result in cell death (1-8). In phase I studies, neutropenia was the only grade 4 toxicity while fatigue, anorexia and mucositis occurred as grade 3 toxicities. Neuropathy, myalgia, arthralgia, alopecia and gastro-intestginal toxicities also occurred at grades 1 and 2. No dermatological effects have been documented to date. Here, a case is reported of a 62-year-old woman with stage 4 breast cancer being treated with Ixabepilone (40 mg/m2) who developed a dermatological reaction not previously described as a toxicity from Ixabepilone therapy.