Ixabepilone for the treatment of taxane-refractory breast cancer.
The ephothilones are a novel class of agents that bind to beta-tubulin, promote microtubule stabilization and cause cell-cycle arrest in G2/M phase. Ixabepilone (Ixempra) is an epothilone B that has demonstrated preclinical activity against a variety of tumor types and has recently been US FDA approved (application for registration ongoing in Europe) as a single agent for the treatment of taxane-refractory metastatic breast cancer, or in combination with capecitabine for patients with advanced breast cancer refractory to anthracyclines and taxanes. This review will provide an overview of the clinical development of ixabepilone, and emphasize the drug's utility for the treatment of advanced breast cancer.
University of Texas, Breast Medical Oncology, Unit 1354, MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 301438, 1155 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA. smoulder@mdanderson.org
Stacy L
SL
Moulder
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D034261:Epothilones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043823:Taxoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D034261:Epothilones; D043823:Taxoids; C430592:ixabepilone