Tykerb and Taxol for metastatic breast cancer – pro
The Taxol and Tykerb combination has recently been shown to improve quality of life in metastatic breast cancer patients versus Taxol alone. In a phase 3 randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, first-line therapy with lapatinib plus paclitaxel significantly improved clinical outcomes based on a pre-planned analysis of ErbB2+ metastatic breast cancer patients. The combination of investigational Tykerb (lapatinib) and Taxol (paclitaxel) as neoadjuant chemotherapy appears effective against inflammatory breast cancer, according to another small study. There are, as of yet in 2012, no published Phase III studies on survival for this regimen.
NCCN does not list the Taxol/Tykerb regimen.
Sherrill B, Di Leo A, Amonkar MM, Wu Y, Zvirbule Z, Aziz Z, Bines J, Gomez HL
Quality-of-life and quality-adjusted survival (Q-TWiST) in patients receiving lapatinib in combination with paclitaxel as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer. 2010-04, Curr Med Res Opin., 26(4):767-75.
Cristofanilli M, et al “A phase II combination study of lapatinib (TYKERB) and paclitaxel as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with newly diagnosed inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)” SABCS 2006; General Session 1: Abstract 1.
Read the Layperson version here.