Ixabepilone, a novel epothilone analog in the treatment of breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Natural epothilones and their analogs promote tumor cell death by binding to tubulin and stabilizing microtubules, causing cell death. Ixabepilone (BMS-247550, Ixempra) is an epothilone analog that optimizes the properties naturally observed with epothilone B. OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of the results achieved by ixabepilone in metastatic breast cancer. METHODS: A PubMed search was performed to provide an extensive review of all published data on ixabepilone, in addition to all data reported from international congresses, from 2003 to 2007. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: There is a clear need for new agents active against resistant metastatic breast cancer and ixabepilone might be a welcome new compound in this situation.