A nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab combination therapy also increased anti-tumor activity in new models of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Given the same dosing regimen, combination treatment inhibited tumor growth in mice by 96% and resulted in 22% (2/9) complete responses.

"These studies establish valuable models for better understanding the biology of these difficult to treat cancers, and indicate that combination therapy utilizing nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab has potential usefulness in both the triple negative and inflammatory breast cancer populations," said Ran.

In the U.S. ABRAXANE is currently approved for the treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within six months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Prior therapy should have included an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated. ABRAXANE has also been granted orphan drug designation by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as stage IIB-IV melanoma.

SOURCE Abraxis BioScience, Inc.