Ixabepilone

Ixabepilone (Ixempra^™) is a semisynthetic analog of epothilone B. Designed to prevent or slow the growth of cancer cells, ixabepilone is administered in combination with capecitabine (another cancer medication) for the treatment of metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer resistant to treatment with an anthracycline and taxane.

Ixabepilone is also indicated as a monotherapy (sole form of chemotherapy treatment) for metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer patients whose tumors are resistant or refractory to anthracyclines, taxanes and capecitabine.

Ixabepilone prevents cancerous tumors from growing by interfering with their cellular ability to divide. Given by intravenous injection (usually once every three weeks), each ixabepilone treatment will take about three hours. Dosage of ixabepilone will vary from patient to patient.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), your integrative care team will work with you to evaluate whether or not ixabepilone could be a good option for your needs. We will also help you explore other complementary breast cancer treatment options designed to improve quality of life and reduce potential chemotherapy side effects.

Chat now with an Oncology Information Specialist at CTCA to learn more about how we fight breast cancer on as many fronts as possible.

Before receiving ixabepilone, you should inform your doctor if you are currently taking any other drugs or are allergic to any drugs (including Cremophor or synthetic castor oil). Your doctor should know if you have liver disease, heart disease, nerve problems, diabetes, bone marrow suppression, or a weak immune system. Ixabepilone could also cause harm to an unborn baby.

If you experience any of the following serious side effects of ixabepilone, tell your doctor immediately so that they can be addressed:

• Severe allergic reactions:
  • Rash, hives, or itching
  • Swelling in the face, mouth, lips, or tongue
  • Extreme difficulty breathing
  • Prolonged shortness of breath
  • Unusual chest pain and tightness
• Hand-foot syndrome (extreme redness or tenderness in palms of hands and soles of feet
• Difficult or painful urination
• Fainting
• Irritated skin (swelling, redness or blistering) at site of injection
• Irregular heartbeat
• Tingling, swelling or burning sensations in hands and feet
• Prolonged periods of dizziness
• Severe nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Severe fatigue, tiredness or weakness
• Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, cough, sore throat)
• Unusual weight gain
• Unusual bruising or bleeding

Common but less serious side effects of ixabepilone may include, but are not limited to:

• Digestive issues:
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
• Dizziness
• Changes in fingernails or toenails
• Headaches
• Mild weight loss
• Alopecia (hair loss)
• Hot flashes
• Loss of appetite
• Changes in sense of taste
• Feelings of tiredness or weakness
• Insomnia
• Mild muscle or joint pain
• Stomatities (mouth inflammation or sores)

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), your dedicated cancer care team will help you understand, anticipate, monitor and respond to any side effects of ixabepilone. Our integrative, whole-patient approach to breast cancer treatment also means that we offer many supportive therapies to help improve your quality of life and mitigate side effects.

Ixabepilone is indicated for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It is usually given after other forms of breast cancer chemotherapy have been tried without successful treatment.

If you have locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer and your tumor is resistant or refractory to anthracyclines, taxanes and capecitabine, then ixabepilone can be given to you as a monotherapy, or sole form of chemotherapy.

If you have locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer and your tumor is resistant or refractory to anthracyclines and taxanes—but not capecitabine—then ixabepilone can be given to as a combination chemotherapy along with capecitabine.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we empower you to make informed decisions about breast cancer treatment and explore both conventional and complementary therapies to fight breast cancer.

To learn more about the innovative breast cancer treatment options offered at CTCA, chat now with an Oncology Information Specialist.