Related pages Drug Information Summaries 1 Approval Process for New Cancer Treatments 2 Access to Investigational Drugs 3

This page contains brief information about ixabepilone and a collection of links to more information about the use of this drug, related news, and ongoing clinical trials.

US Brand Name(s):		Ixempra
FDA Approved:		Yes

Ixabepilone is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used alone or together with a drug called capecitabine to treat metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer. It is used in patients who have not gotten better with other chemotherapy.

Ixabepilone is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

FDA Approval for Ixabepilone ⁴ - Information from the FDA about the approval of this drug and the clinical trials that led to the approval.

Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary ⁵ - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

New Chemotherapy Agents Travel Winding Road (09/25/2007) ⁶ - Information about the use of this drug to treat cancer.

MedlinePlus Information on Ixabepilone ⁷ - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

• warnings about this drug,
• what this drug is used for and how it is used,
• what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
• what you should know about this drug before using it,
• other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
• possible side effects.

Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This NLM patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

Clinical Trials for Ixabepilone ⁸ - Check for trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry now accepting patients.

Glossary Terms

Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.

A drug used to treat stage III colon cancer in patients who had surgery to remove the cancer. It is also used to treat metastatic breast cancer that has not improved after treatment with certain other anticancer drugs. Capecitabine is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. It is taken up by cancer cells and breaks down into 5-fluorouracil, a substance that kills tumor cells. Capecitabine is a type of antimetabolite. Also called Xeloda.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

An agency in the U.S. federal government whose mission is to protect public health by making sure that food, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements are safe to use and truthfully labeled. The Food and Drug Administration also makes sure that drugs, medical devices, and equipment are safe and effective, and that blood for transfusions and transplant tissue are safe. Also called FDA.

Cancer that has spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes.

Having to do with metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from the primary site (place where it started) to other places in the body.