EJC Supplements RSS feed: Current Issue. The European Journal of Cancer (including EJC Supplements ), is an international comprehensive oncology journal that publishes original research, editorial comments, review articles and news on experimental oncology, clinical oncology (medical, paediatric, radiation, surgical), and on cancer epidemiology and prevention. EJC Supplements is available at no charge to subscribers of the European Journal of Cancer . Official Journal of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the European School of Oncology (ESO), the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), the Federation of European Cancer Societies (FECS) and the European Society of Mastology (EUSOMA).http://www.ejcancersupplements.info/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. EJC Supplements1359-634981January 2010 © 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.ejcancersupplements.info/article/PIIS135963491070001X/abstract?rss=yesEditorial Board10.1016/S1359-6349(10)70001-XEJC Supplements 8, 1 (2010)2010-01-01EJC Supplements2010-01-0181S1359-6349(09)X0007-8iiiihttp://www.ejcancersupplements.info/article/PIIS1359634910700021/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Breast cancer deaths in western countries are falling due to screening and adjuvant therapy, but the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has not shown comparable advances. The most active single agents are taxanes, which extend both disease-free and overall survival. However, opportunities remain for improving outcome. Nanoparticle technology is proving a valuable addition to the pharmaceutical armamentarium, particularly in oncology. Its use to bind paclitaxel to human albumin (nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel; nab-paclitaxel; Abraxane®) ensures solubility of the taxane without the use of solvents and minimizes the risk of hypersensitivity reactions without premedication. The homogeneous colloidal suspension created allows rapid dispersal of unbound drug and linear pharmacokinetics. Albumin-mediated transport of paclitaxel across the endothelium facilitates uptake of drug, and a degree of tumour selectivity is achieved by the albumin-binding propensity of SPARC (Secreted Protein Acidic Rich in Cysteine), a substance expressed on and around many breast tumours. Clinical trials in first- and second-line MBC show that nab-paclitaxel is both more effective than solvent-based taxanes and associated with less severe neutropenia. Sensory neuropathy occurs but improves rapidly when compared with that caused by conventional taxanes. A clinical development programme is investigating nab-paclitaxel in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings. The low incidence of neutropenia makes nab-paclitaxel a good candidate for combination with other cytotoxics. It is also being assessed when given with biologic agents such as trastuzumab and bevacizumab. Nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab™)-paclitaxel: improving efficacy and tolerability by targeted drug delivery in metastatic breast cancerJavier Cortes, Cristina Saura10.1016/S1359-6349(10)70002-1EJC Supplements 8, 1 (2010)2010-01-01EJC Supplements2010-01-0181S1359-6349(09)X0007-8110http://www.ejcancersupplements.info/article/PIIS1359634910700033/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Options for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) continue to grow with the advent of signal transduction modulators, new cytotoxics, and new formulations of standard agents. These developments are welcome as a means of further extending progression-free and overall survival, and as a way of allowing us to tailor therapy to characteristics of the individual patient such as the molecular biology of their tumour, treatment history, and performance status. Targeting drug delivery to the tumour is a promising means of increasing the therapeutic index of highly active agents such as the taxanes, and nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab) paclitaxel is one such advance. This paper reviews the clinical trial background for nab-paclitaxel and three individual cases in which its use was judged especially appropriate. These include a patient with prior exposure to anthracycline and docetaxel needing second-line treatment for MBC, a patient requiring first-line treatment following adjuvant anthracycline, and a patient in whom flexible dosing was a potential advantage. The role of nab™-paclitaxel in managing metastatic breast cancer: a report of three casesNeville Davidson10.1016/S1359-6349(10)70003-3EJC Supplements 8, 1 (2010)2010-01-01EJC Supplements2010-01-0181S1359-6349(09)X0007-81118