Cytotoxic chemotherapy: Still the mainstay of clinical practice for all subtypes metastatic breast cancer.

Abstract

Cytotoxic chemotherapy remains central to the treatment of all subtypes of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We review evidence-based chemotherapy options for women with MBC after an anthracycline and a taxane including re-challenge with anthracycline or taxane, capecitabine, eribulin and ixabepilone as a single agent or combination with capecitabine (not approved in the EU); and the vinca alkaloid vinflunine as single agent or combined with either capecitabine/gemcitabine (also not approved EU or USA). Etirinotecan pegol, comprising irinotecan bound to polyethylene glycol by a biodegradable linker, is a new cytotoxic agent for patients with MBC that has achieved encouraging response rates in phase II studies; it has been further evaluated in the phase III BEACON trial. New cytotoxics should address novel targets or modes of delivery, achieve meaningful improvements in outcomes and seek to identify predictive biomarker(s).

• Authors: Chris Twelves, Maria Jove, Andrea Gombos, Ahmad Awada
• Journal: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology (Crit Rev Oncol Hematol) Vol. 100 Pg. 74-87 (Apr 2016) ISSN: 1879-0461 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 26857987 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans