Taxol Ineffective for Most Common Form of Breast Cancer - Study

The chemotherapy drug Taxol, manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb and also available in generic form, is not effective for the most common form of breast cancer and helps far fewer patients than was previously believed, according to a study released Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine. If the study's results are confirmed through additional research, over 20,000 women in the U.S. per year could be spared the drug's side effects without putting them at higher risk of a return of their cancer. "We want to make sure these data are correct before withholding it (Taxol) from some patients ... the stakes are high," said lead researcher Dr. Daniel Hayes. "On the other hand, we don't want to keep a therapy that doesn't work." The study indicated that Taxol was most effective in women who had overactive HER-2 genes, the target of rival cancer treatment Herceptin, manufactured by Genentech. It had no significant effect on women with HER-2 negative tumors, the more common form of breast cancer. The study is a reevaluation of research conducted in the 1990s, before today's genetic tools became available. Cancer specialist Dr. Julie Gralow said doctors will be reluctant to withhold Taxol for fear they might be sued if the cancer recurs. "It's just so much easier to give the chemotherapy and know you've been super-aggressive," she said.

Sources: Study, Editorial, , AP, Reuters
Commentary: Super Results for Genentech/Immunogen's "Super-Herceptin" Collaboration • Genentech's Herceptin: Heart Risk Stable Over Five Years
Stocks/ETFs to watch: BMY, DNA, RHHBY. ETFs: PPH, IHE

Seeking Alpha's news briefs are combined into a pre-market summary called Wall Street Breakfast. Get Wall Street Breakfast by email -- it's free and takes only seconds to sign up.