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`Abraxane Beats Standard Breast Cancer Treatment
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`WebMD
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`Abraxane Beats Standard Breast Cancer
`Treatment
`
`Study Shows Abraxane Works Better Than Standard Chemotherapy for Metastatic
`Breast Cancer
`
`By Charlene Laino
`
`FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES
`
`June 3 2009 Orlando Fla For women with breast cancer
`that has spread to other
`parts of the body the chemotherapy drug Abraxane works better and with fewer side
`effects than the standard drug treatment a new study suggests
`
`Abraxane prolonged the time to cancer progression by nearly seven months compared
`with standard Taxotere says study head William Gradishar MD director of breast medical
`oncology at the Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer
`Center of Northwestern
`University In Chicago
`
`The findings support the use of Abraxane as first line therapy for women with metastatic
`breast cancer he tells WebMD
`
`The study was published in the May 26 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology
`
`At the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology ASCO here this
`specialists like Jennifer K Litton MD of the University of Texas
`week breast cancer
`MD Anderson Cancer
`Center in Houston told WebMD that the data support what they
`have been doing in their practices
`
`Abraxane is approved to treat metastatic breast cancer
`failed but more and more doctors are using it as a first
`has spread Litton says
`
`after other treatments have
`
`treatment for breast cancer
`
`that
`
`Abraxane is very well tolerated with fewer side effects than Taxotere
`
`Taxotere and Abraxane are both members of a class of drugs known as taxanes The
`major difference Taxotere needs to be dissolved in a chemical solvent to create a liquid
`that can be injected into the bloodstream Litton says
`
`Many people can have a severe allergic reaction to the chemical solvent that is used with
`Taxotere Also you may have to premedicate patients with steroids which have their own
`
`Abraxan
`
`SEARCH
`
`httpwwwwebmdcombreastcancernews20090603breastcancerdrugabraxaneiseffectiveprint=true
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`13
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`Abraxis EX2015
`Actavis LLC v Abraxis Bioscience LLC
`1PR201701101 1PR201701103 1PR201701104
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`Abraxane Beats Standard Breast Cancer Treatment
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`The chemical solvents can also cause a drop in the white blood cell count and numbness
`or tingling in the fingertips Gradishar says
`
`In contrast Abraxane uses a human protein to create a fatty envelope to deliver the
`chemotherapy Litton says and the use of chemical solvents is avoided
`
`Abraxane vs Breast Cancer
`
`The new study involved 302 women with previously untreated advanced metastatic breast
`cancer
`
`WebMD Health News I Reviewed by Louise Chang MD on June 03 2009
`
`SOURCES
`
`American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting 2009 Orlando Fla May 29 June 2 2009
`William Gradishar MD director breast medical oncology Robert H Lurie Comprehensive
`Cancer Center Northwestern University Chicago
`Jennifer K Litton MD assistant professor department of breast medical oncology University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston
`
`© 2009 WebMD LLC All rights reserved
`
`They women were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups Three groups were
`administered Abraxane given one of three ways every three weeks weekly at a lower
`dose for three weeks with the fourth week off or weekly at a higher dose for three weeks
`with the fourth week off The fourth group was given Taxotere at the standard dose every
`three weeks
`
`Results showed that Abraxane worked best when given weekly at either dose with the
`fourth week off
`
`Women in all three Abraxane groups suffered less fatigue and were less likely to have
`dangerous drops in their white blood cell counts than those on Taxotere
`
`The bottom line The weekly schedule is the way to go the experts agree
`
`The weekly schedule of Abraxane has more antitumor effects and is better tolerated than
`Taxotere There is also evidence that Abraxane is able to deliver the chemotherapy drug
`more effectively to the tumor Gradishar says
`
`A larger longer study comparing the same drugs is planned
`
`The study was supported by Abraxis BioScience which manufactures Abraxane
`Gradishar is a member of the advisory boards for Abraxis and SanofiAventis US which
`
`manufactures Taxotere
`
`At the ASCO meeting another study showed that a onetwo punch with Abraxane and the
`targeted cancer drug Avastin is safe and packs a strong punch against metastatic breast
`cancer
`
`Abraxan
`
`SEARCH
`
`httpwwwwebmdcombreastcancernews20090603breastcancerdrugabraxaneiseffectiveprint=true
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`Its important
`
`to have safety data and this shows the combination is very well tolerated
`
`Litton says
`
`combo may be more effective
`Other research has suggested that the AbraxaneAvastin
`than Abraxane alone but further study is needed to confirm that and flesh out the best
`way to give the drugs she says
`
`WebMD Health News I Reviewed by Louise Chang MD on June 03 2009
`
`SOURCES
`American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting 2009 Orlando Fla May 29 June 2 2009
`William Gradishar MD director breast medical oncology Robert H Lurie Comprehensive
`Cancer Center Northwestern University Chicago
`Jennifer K Litton MD assistant professor department of breast medical oncology University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston
`
`© 2009 WebMD LLC All rights reserved
`
`httpwwwwebmdcombreastcancernews20090603breastcancerdrugabraxaneiseffectiveprint=true
`
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