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CancerQuest > Drugs > Ixabepilone (Ixempra®)

Ixabepilone (Ixempra®)

Generic Name: Ixabepilone Brand Name(s): Ixempra® IUPAC: (1R,5S,6S,7R,10S,14S,16S)-6,10-dihydroxy-1,5,7, 9,9-pentamethyl-14-[(E)-1-(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol- 4-yl)prop-1-en-2-yl]-17-oxa-13-azabicyclo[14.1.0] heptadecane-8,12-dione FDA Approval: yes Manufacturer Link

Usage: Ixabepilone is approved for use: In combination with capecitabine to treat metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer after failure of anthracycline and taxane treatments. To treat metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer after failure of anthracycline, taxane and capecitabine treatments.

Mechanism: Ixabepilone (Ixempra®) is a microtubule function inhibitor and a member of the epothilone class of anticancer agents. Ixabepilone binds to beta-tubulin subunits on microtubules, prohibiting them from depolymerizing during mitosis. This halts cell division and eventually leads to cell death.

Side Effects: Side Effects include: Fatigue, Myalgia (muscle pain) or arthralgia (joint pain), Alopecia (hair loss), Nausea and vomiting, Stomatitis or mucositis (inflammation of the mucous linings on the mouth or digestive tract, respectively), Diarrhea.

Contraindications: The most common toxicities associated with ixabepilone are peripheral neuropathy, myelosuppression (particularly of white blood cells) and hypersensitivity reactions. Due to the potential for alteration of ixabepilone metabolism, patients taking strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers should be treated with caution. Ixabepilone has potential to harm a developing fetus, therefore prospective mothers should be warned of this risk and women should avoid becoming pregnant while receiving treatment ixabepilone treatment.