Nab-Paclitaxel in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Defining the Best Patient Profile

Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 2016;16(5):415-28. doi: 10.2174/1568009615666150817121731.

Abstract

Around 40% of patients with breast cancer will present with a recurrence of the disease. Chemotherapy is recommended for patients with recurrent hormone-independent or hormone-refractory breast cancer and almost all patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) receive chemotherapy during their medical history. Nanoparticle albuminbound (nab)-paclitaxel is a solvent-free, 130-nanometer particle formulation of paclitaxel. Nab-paclitaxel can be administered to all patients for whom the treatment choice is a taxane. In this review, 6 patient profiles for which nabpaclitaxel may be particularly useful are described and analyzed: (i) as first-line treatment of MBC, (ii) as second-line treatment of MBC after oral chemotherapy, (iii) after a standard taxane, (iv) as third-line treatment after a standard taxane and oral chemotherapy, (v) for patients with HER2-positive MBC and (vi) for patients with intolerance to standard taxanes. Nab-paclitaxel is a rational treatment choice for patients with MBC in different settings, as well as for those with prior exposure to a standard taxane.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Albumins / pharmacology*
  • Albumins / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / pharmacology
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage*
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use*
  • Taxoids / pharmacology
  • Taxoids / therapeutic use

Substances

  • 130-nm albumin-bound paclitaxel
  • Albumins
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds
  • Taxoids
  • taxane
  • Paclitaxel