title: Taxanes in combination with biologic agents for ovarian and breast cancers.
abstract: Taxane-based cytotoxic therapy is commonly prescribed for breast and ovarian cancers. Although these cancers are often sensitive to such therapy, clinical benefit and overall survival are limited owing to the development of chemoresistance and recurrence. Biologic agents that specifically target proteins of growth factor signaling pathways, which are hyperactivated in cancers, offer attractive targets for cancer therapeutics and may work synergistically with standard taxane-based chemotherapy to improve patient outcomes. We review clinical trials of biologic agents--angiogenic, tyrosine kinase, and antibody inhibitors--in combination with taxane-based therapy for ovarian and breast cancers. Many clinical trials have shown promising results. However, some biologic agents still need larger trials to assess safety and efficacy. As research into the heterogeneity and complexity of ovarian and breast cancers improves our understanding of the molecular pathways involved, there is no question that targeted therapies with biologic agents will expand the future array of available cancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: aReproductive Tumor Biology Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, Connecticut bDivision of Gynecologic Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Roshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karki
authors.forename: Brandon-Luke L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Seagle
authors.forename: Wilberto
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nieves-Neira
authors.forename: Shohreh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahabi
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043823:Taxoids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068878:Trastuzumab
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D043823:Taxoids; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000068878:Trastuzumab