title: Systematic review of ixabepilone for treating metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ixabepilone is now a Food and Drug Administration-approved therapeutic option for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) whose disease has progressed despite prior anthracycline and taxane therapy. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of ixabepilone for treating metastatic breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Randomized controlled studies applying ixabepilone for treating MBC were included. The primary outcome was Overall Survival (OS). The authors of primary articles were contacted and methodological quality was evaluated. Subgroups were drawn based on intervention measures; heterogeneity and bias were discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies with 5247 patients were included. Compared with a weekly schedule, a triweekly schedule of ixabepilone was better at improving overall response rate (ORR), while there were no differences in improving OS and progression-free survival (PFS). Ixabepilone plus capecitabine was superior to capecitabine monotherapy in improving OS, PFS and ORR. Paclitaxel was more effective than ixabepilone in terms of OS and PFS. There was no difference in the improvement of ORR, clinical benefit rate (CBR) and disease control rate (DCR) between ixabepilone and eribulin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current evidence suggests that a triweekly schedule of ixabepilone is more effective than weekly dosing in improving ORR. Use of ixabepilone in combination with capecitabine possesses superior clinical efficacy to the use of capecitabine alone. Paclitaxel was more effective than ixabepilone in terms of OS and PFS. The efficacy and safety between ixabepilone and eribulin were identical.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics of Chengdu University, No. 168 Huaguan Road, Longtan Industrial Park, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics of Chengdu University, No. 168 Huaguan Road, Longtan Industrial Park, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China. 1509614685@qq.com.
authors.forename: Wenxia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000069287:Capecitabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D034261:Epothilones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005663:Furans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007659:Ketones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069287:Capecitabine; D034261:Epothilones; D005663:Furans; D007659:Ketones; D017239:Paclitaxel; C430592:ixabepilone; C490954:eribulin; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides
keywords: Ixabepilone; Meta-analysis; Metastatic breast cancer; Systematic review; Therapy