Ixabepilone in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Real-World Experience

85 Breast cancer is the most frequent diagnosis encountered in oncology clinics and the second cause of cancer-related mortality besides lung cancer among women worldwide.1 Although the methods of early detection have evolved, around 6% of women are still diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at their first visit. In addition, as many as 30% of patients with non-metastatic early stage breast cancer will be diagnosed with distant metastatic disease during their disease course.2 Although there is currently no cure for metastatic breast cancer, newer systemic therapies have improved survival. Ixabepilone is an epothilone, a class of nontaxane microtubule-stabilizing agents that have activity in taxane-resistant patients. Many trials have demonstrated the efficacy of ixabepilone in chemotherapy-resistant tumors.3-5 This study assessed the efficacy of ixabepilone and compared two regimens of this drug in patients with metastatic breast cancer in daily clinical practice. Ixabepilone in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Real-World Experience