Optimal Use of Taxanes in Metastatic Breast Cancer


   Open this guideline summary  (PDF)
   Open this treatment guideline  (PDF)

Developed: December 2007 Revised:  December 2009


Goal/Objective

To determine the optimal clinical use of taxanes in the management of metastatic breast cancer.


Questions Answered

• What taxane regimens can be offered to anthracycline-naïve patients with metastatic breast cancer (where HER2 is not over-expressed)?
• What taxane regimens can be offered to anthracycline-pre-treated/resistant patients with metastatic breast cancer (where HER2 is not over-expressed)?
• What taxane regimens can be offered to patients with metastatic breast cancer where HER2 is over-expressed?
• What are the benefits (time to progression, progression free survival, overall survival, quality of life)?
• What are the potential toxicities?