How Do Antineoplastic Epothilone B Analogs Work?

Antineoplastic epothilone B analogs are a class of drugs used to treat unresponsive aggressive metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer. They are a class of potential cancer drugs that prevent cancer cells from dividing by interfering with microtubulin function. Microtubules are essential for cell division, and epothilones stop cells from properly dividing, thus leading to cytotoxicity and eventually cell apoptosis (regulated form of cell death).

Epothilone B analogs are administered as a powder to be added to fluid and injected over three hours intravenously (into a vein) once every three weeks.

Epothilone B analogs work in the following ways:

• They are chemotherapy drugs that work by slowing down or stopping the growth of cancer cells.
• They belong to a class of medications called "microtubule inhibitors" that work by killing cancer cells.
• They inhibit the microtubulin function which is essential for cell division and eventually leads to cell death.

HOW ARE ANTINEOPLASTIC EPOTHILONE B ANALOGS USED?

Antineoplastic epothilone B analogs are used to treat metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer.

WHAT ARE SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTINEOPLASTIC EPOTHILONE B ANALOGS?

Some of the common side effects include:

Nausea

Vomiting

Constipation

Diarrhea

Abdominal pain

Headache

Tiredness/weakness

Taste changes

Mouth sores

Loss of appetite

Joint/muscle pain

Pain, redness, swelling, hardness, or itching at the injection site

Other rare side effects include:

Dizziness 

Drowsiness

Fatigue 

Weight loss

Hair loss

Chest pain/tightness

Anemia (low red blood cell count)

Insomnia (trouble falling and/or staying asleep)

Shortness of breath

Chills, sore throat, fever, or cough

Rash/hives/itching

Thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count)

Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

WHAT ARE NAMES OF ANTINEOPLASTIC EPOTHILONE B ANALOGS?

Generic and brand names of antineoplastic epothilone B analogs include:

Ixabepilone

Ixempra

Antineoplastic epothilone B analogs are used to treat metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer.

Some of the common side effects include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• Tiredness/weakness
• Taste changes
• Mouth sores
• Loss of appetite
• Joint/muscle pain
• Pain, redness, swelling, hardness, or itching at the injection site

Other rare side effects include:

• Dizziness 
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue 
• Weight loss
• Hair loss
• Chest pain/tightness
• Anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Insomnia (trouble falling and/or staying asleep)
• Shortness of breath
• Chills, sore throat, fever, or cough
• Rash/hives/itching
• Thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count)

Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of antineoplastic epothilone B analogs include:

• Ixabepilone
• Ixempra