Ixabepilone for the treatment of breast cancer

Abstract

Patients with breast cancer that becomes resistant to taxanes and anthracyclines experience considerable morbidity and mortality. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of ixabepilone for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that is refractory or resistant to taxanes and anthracyclines. The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidence from published studies on the pharmacological data and clinical activity of ixabepilone in patients with breast cancer. The conclusion of this review is that ixabepilone demonstrated a high efficacy in combination with capecitabine and as a single agent in breast cancer refractory to taxanes and anthracyclines. The clinical activity of ixabepilone combined with bevacizumab for advanced breast cancer was very promising.