Use and abuse of taxanes in the management of metastatic breast cancer.
Taxanes are currently introduced early in the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), both as single agents and in combination with anthracyclines. Two different patient populations exist: those with no or minimal prior anthracycline exposure and those who have failed previous anthracyclines. The data generated through phase III trials in first-line MBC therapy will be reviewed and their interpretation for routine clinical practice (use versus abuse) will be discussed. Ways of improving taxane-based treatment tailoring both in the pre- and postgenomic eras will be addressed.
Bernard-Marty
C
C
Department of Medical Oncology, Jules Bordet Institute, Boulevard de Waterloo, 215, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
Cardoso
F
F
Piccart
M J
MJ
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015982:Bias; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D043823:Taxoids
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel