Taxanes in the first-line chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer: Review

Taxanes belong to the most effective agents in the treatment of advanced and non-hormone responsive breast cancer. Several recently published phase III studies have examined the role of taxane-anthracycline combinations in the first line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Especially, patients with symptomatic visceral spread seem to benefit from taxanes containing polychemotherapy that is adequately dosed. Polychemotherapy with taxanes appears to be more effective than monotherapy. But at present, there are no adequate data concerning the comparison of taxane-monotherapy and anthracycline-containing polychemotherapy. New hopeful results with respect to efficacy and toxicity are reported from the docetaxel-capecitabine polychemotherapy. Thus, the combination of anthracyclines (adriamycin, doxorubicin) and taxanes (docetaxel, paclitaxel) is a promising tool in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. New interesting combinations are under investigation.

Breast cancer; Metastases; Chemotherapy; Taxanes

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