Abstract
The introduction of modern chemotherapy agents, including the taxanes, has improved the prognosis of women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Ultimately, however, inevitable intrinsic or acquired resistance to chemotherapy limits treatment options. The epothilones, a novel class of microtubule-stabilizing agents that have incomplete cross-resistance with taxanes and are less susceptible to common mechanisms of resistance, have demonstrated activity in breast cancer. Ixabepilone, the best studied epothilone to date, has been approved for use as a single agent or in combination with capecitabine in anthracycline- and taxanepretreated or refractory MBC. Ixabepilone is relatively well tolerated, with the most common side effects being peripheral neuropathy and neutropenia. Other epothilones such as KOS-862, patupilone, ZK-EPO, BMS-310705, and KOS-1584 are being evaluated as therapy for patients with breast cancer, with promising preliminary data. Ongoing research aims to define and optimize the efficacy of the epothilones in an attempt to improve the quality of life and overall survival of individuals with breast cancer.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
