Of particular note was the dramatic improvement seen in patients with aggressive and widespread disease, for whom the standard combination yielded, as expected, poor results. The positive results of this study and the approval of this new combination in the European Union may establish a new standard for the treatment of advanced, metastatic breast cancer. In clinical studies of cancer therapy, the overall response rate is defined as the partial response rate plus the complete response rate. A complete response is a complete disappearance of all clinical and X-ray signs of cancer, while a partial response refers to a 50 percent or greater decrease in measurable tumor size. Both regimens had a generally manageable safety profile.
Microtubules assemble and disassemble during a cell cycle.
Taxotere promotes their assembly and blocks their disassembly, thereby preventing cancer cells from dividing and resulting in cancer cell death. Taxotere is already approved in more than 80 countries, including the European Union and the United States, to treat advanced breast cancer after the failure of prior chemotherapy. Taxotere also is approved for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in the European Union, the United States and more than 50 other countries. A premedication regimen with corticosteroids is recommended in order to prevent or reduce hypersensitivity and fluid retention. Taxotere is generally not appropriate therapy for patients with liver impairment.