Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains a fatal disease despite the great amount of research performed in recent years and the progress achieved. The median survival of patients with MBC is ∼ 18–24 months after the initial diagnosis of metastases (Dickson et al., 2005). Hence, the principal goals of treatment are palliation of symptoms and prolongation of survival while maintaining or improving the quality of life. Many drugs have been approved for the treatment of MBC and among them the taxanes and anthracyclines represent the two major chemotherapy classes commonly used in daily practice.
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Pallis, A.G., Georgoulias, V., Mavroudis, V. (2008). Advanced Breast Cancer: Treatment with Docetaxel/Epirubicin. In: Hayat, M.A. (eds) Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy and Prognosis. Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy and Prognosis, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8369-3_27
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