Taxol or taxotere ?

Anotherone

may be someone knows - although with heterogenocity of metastatic disease probably better ask on a chemo forum bit my last thread of abraxane and taxol have not received any responses there I believe.

I had it mentioned that taxol (pacitaxel) has been noticed to promote tumour migrating qualities in breast cancer cells. After a quick search it appears that all of chemotherapeutic agents can be implicated in it and then it does not matter which one is used . Anybody knows anything on the topic?

Anonymous

Not sure. But my MO was planning to give me dose dense Taxotere when I was thought to be stage 2 then she changed to weekly Taxol when I was found to be metastatic. I think part of the decision lies in how strong the side effects will be. They will blast you with dose dense Taxotere and risk permanent hair loss and more severe drop in WBC, etc when they think they can "cure" you. But when you're Stage IV they will take it easier on you with the weekly Taxol that has fewer side effects -- more of a "palliative" approach I think?.

That's just my take on it. As far as I know, all chemos carry that risk of encouraging migration, isn't that so? (I could be wrong, but that's what I gather from Dr. Googling)

Anotherone

tx Olma, so hard to know what to do

Anonymous

Perhaps the Herceptin plays a role though - if we're getting targeted therapy along with the chemo, that would help negate any pro-tumor action that might happen from the chemo? I think that would make a difference, would not be the same as depending on chemo alone. Not sure if there are studies to back that up but it seems logical.

Anotherone

Makes sense , thank you again.