Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have reported that the combination of Abraxane® (nanoparticle albumin-bound-paclitaxel) and Gemzar® (gemcitabine) has a 50% response rate in previously untreated patients with metastatic breast cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication on December 15, 2008 in the Annals of Oncology.[1]
Abraxane, considered the next-generation taxane, is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer that has failed combination chemotherapy or breast cancer that has relapsed within six months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Therapy prior to Abraxane should have included an anthracycline unless contraindicated.
Abraxane consists of the active ingredient paclitaxel, which is found in Taxol® (paclitaxel) and its generic equivalents. However, in the formulation of Abraxane, paclitaxel is delivered in a suspension of albumin particles, offering several advantages over Taxol and its generic equivalents, in which polyethoxylated castor oil (Cremophor EL) is used as the solvent.
Abraxane has been combined with Xeloda® (capecitabine), and clinical trials of Abraxane and Herceptin® (trastuzumab) are underway. Abraxane is also being evaluated in adjuvant breast cancer regimens.
The current study of Abraxane and Gemzar involved 50 patients with previously untreated breast cancer. Eighty percent of these patients had visceral organ involvement. The complete response rate was 8%, and the partial response rate was 42%. Median duration of response was 6.9 months, and median progression-free survival was 7.9 months. Median overall survival has not been reached. Therapy was described as well tolerated.
Comments: Abraxane and Gemzar appears to be a well tolerated and reasonably active combination for palliative therapy of metastatic breast cancer.
Reference:
[1] Roy V, La Plant BR, Gross GG, et al. Phase II trial of weekly nab (nanoparticle albumin-bound)-paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) (Abraxane®) in combination with gemcitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer (NO531). Annals of Oncology [early online publication]. 2008; December 15.
© 1998-2007 OncoEd.com All Rights Reserved.
These materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. All readers should verify all information and data before administering any drug, therapy or treatment discussed herein. Neither the editors nor the publisher accepts any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or consequences from the use or misuse of the information contained herein.
Patient Home
