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Taxol vs. Abraxane in recurrent IBC?

Page last modified on: October 13, 2008

Question from Barb: Can you comment on the use of Taxol vs. Abraxane in the treatment of recurrence in IBC, especially for the triple-negative cases?: Answer —Gabriel Hortobagyi, M.D., F.A.C.P.: Abraxane (chemical name: albumin-bound paclitaxel) is a new formulation of paclitaxel, which is the active component of Taxol. There is a single head-to-head comparison of Abraxane and Taxol which suggests that we can give higher doses of Abraxane and that Abraxane is slightly more effective at those higher doses than a standard dose of Taxol. Whether this applies to inflammatory breast cancer or not is unknown. But clearly Abraxane is an effective drug, although whether the cost differential is justified in the case of an individual patient should be discussed with the treating oncologist.

On Wednesday, October 18, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Gabriel Hortobagyi, M.D., Thomas Buchholz, M.D., and moderator Jennifer Sabol, M.D. answered your questions about inflammatory breast cancer, a rare but aggressive form of breast cancer.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, M.D., F.A.C.P. chairs the department of breast medical oncology and directs the Breast Cancer Research Program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where he also serves as professor of medicine and holds the Nellie B. Connally Chair in Breast Cancer.

Thomas A. Buchholz, M.D. is professor of radiation oncology at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Buchholz' research includes the role of radiation treatment in preventing breast cancer recurrence and whether certain genes may be able to predict how breast cancer responds to treatment.

Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon who directs the newly developed Breast Care Center at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa. Among her many interests, Dr. Sabol spearheads several research initiatives to advance the care for women with breast cancer and improve methods of breast cancer detection and treatment.