title: Ixabepilone for the treatment of endometrial cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynaecological cancer. Despite significant progress in the multimodality treatment approach, the prognosis remains poor for patients with advanced disease. Thus, there is the necessity of more effective strategies. The microtubule-stabilizing agent ixabepilone is the first drug in this new class of agents that has been approved for metastatic breast cancer treatment. Based on empiric data and on the clinical efficacy demonstrated in breast cancer, several clinical trials were proposed to define its role in EC. The aim of this review is to determine whether ixabepilone improved the clinical outcome in patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic EC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preclinical and clinical studies of ixabepilone in endometrial cancer were analyzed and discussed. Data were obtained by searching for English peer-reviewed articles on PubMed, phase I and II studies registered on clincaltrials.gov, and related abstracts recently presented at major international congresses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advanced or recurrent EC still represents a challenge and an unmet need in the panorama of gynaecological malignancies. Ixabepilone's future therapeutic role in EC remains ill defined. Nevertheless, despite its limited efficacy in EC, clinicians treating gynaecological tumours should be aware of its main aspects.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences , 'Sapienza' University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences , 'Sapienza' University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Piacenti
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences , 'Sapienza' University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Ludovica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Imperiale
authors.affiliation: b Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I , 'Sapienza' University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Felice
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boccia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences , 'Sapienza' University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Violante
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Donato
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences , 'Sapienza' University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perniola
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences , 'Sapienza' University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences , 'Sapienza' University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Innocenza
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Palaia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences , 'Sapienza' University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muzii
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences , 'Sapienza' University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benedetti Panici
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D034261:Epothilones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D034261:Epothilones; C430592:ixabepilone
keywords: Endometrial cancer; chemotherapy; epothilones; ixabepilone; metastatic; new agents; recurrent disease