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Systematic review of ixabepilone for treating metastatic breast cancer

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Abstract

Background

Ixabepilone is now a Food and Drug Administration-approved therapeutic option for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) whose disease has progressed despite prior anthracycline and taxane therapy. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of ixabepilone for treating metastatic breast cancer.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Randomized controlled studies applying ixabepilone for treating MBC were included. The primary outcome was Overall Survival (OS). The authors of primary articles were contacted and methodological quality was evaluated. Subgroups were drawn based on intervention measures; heterogeneity and bias were discussed.

Results

Eight studies with 5247 patients were included. Compared with a weekly schedule, a triweekly schedule of ixabepilone was better at improving overall response rate (ORR), while there were no differences in improving OS and progression-free survival (PFS). Ixabepilone plus capecitabine was superior to capecitabine monotherapy in improving OS, PFS and ORR. Paclitaxel was more effective than ixabepilone in terms of OS and PFS. There was no difference in the improvement of ORR, clinical benefit rate (CBR) and disease control rate (DCR) between ixabepilone and eribulin.

Conclusions

Current evidence suggests that a triweekly schedule of ixabepilone is more effective than weekly dosing in improving ORR. Use of ixabepilone in combination with capecitabine possesses superior clinical efficacy to the use of capecitabine alone. Paclitaxel was more effective than ixabepilone in terms of OS and PFS. The efficacy and safety between ixabepilone and eribulin were identical.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Wenxia Sun for data supply, Jing Ren for statistical analysis, Kaishun Wang for unit conversion of outcomes and Li Guo for English translation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmacy, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Li

  2. Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics of Chengdu University, No. 168 Huaguan Road, Longtan Industrial Park, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Ren & Wenxia Sun

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  1. Jing Li
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  2. Jing Ren
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Correspondence to Wenxia Sun.

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Conflict of interest

Neither the entire paper nor any part of its content has been published or has been accepted elsewhere.It is not being submitted to any other journal. All authors have seen the manuscript and approved to submit to your journal. All authors do not have any financial relationship with a biotechnology manufacturer, a pharmaceutical company, or other commercial entity that has an interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.

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Li, J., Ren, J. & Sun, W. Systematic review of ixabepilone for treating metastatic breast cancer. Breast Cancer 24, 171–179 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-016-0717-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-016-0717-0

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