Nab-paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer: a comprehensive review

Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2011 May;4(3):329-34. doi: 10.1586/ecp.11.7.

Abstract

The novel paclitaxel formulation (nanoparticle albumin-bound [nab] paclitaxel (Abraxane(®)) has recently been approved by the US FDA for treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within 6 months after adjuvant chemotherapy. Apart from its superior efficacy, as demonstrated in the pivotal Phase III study, less toxicity compared with the traditional solvent-containing paclitaxel (Taxol(®)) seems to contribute to its favorable therapeutic index. While approved as a single agent, nab-paclitaxel may prove more effective in combination with either biologic agents and/or other cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, as summarized in this article.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Albumins / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • 130-nm albumin-bound paclitaxel
  • Albumins
  • Paclitaxel