Woman holding dandelion, symbolizing hope in cancer treatment.

Eribulin: A Ray of Hope for Hormone-Refractory Metastatic Breast Cancer?

Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how eribulin mesylate offers a valuable treatment option for women with advanced breast cancer who have exhausted other therapies."

Metastatic breast cancer remains a significant challenge, with over 234,000 new cases and 41,000 deaths estimated in the United States in 2015. While advancements have improved survival rates for some, those with hormone-refractory or triple-negative disease still face a poorer prognosis.

Once breast cancer metastasizes, the focus shifts from cure to extending life while maintaining quality of life. Treatment strategies are often dictated by factors like hormone receptor and HER2 status. However, when the cancer stops responding to hormone therapies, the options become more limited, highlighting the urgent need for new and effective treatments.

This article examines the potential of eribulin mesylate (Halaven), a non-taxane microtubule dynamics inhibitor, in treating women with hormone-refractory MBC who have already undergone extensive treatment. By exploring real-world case studies, we'll delve into its efficacy and tolerability.

Eribulin in Action: Real-World Case Studies

Woman holding dandelion, symbolizing hope in cancer treatment.

The original research paper detailed two cases of women in their 60s with HER2-negative ductal carcinoma who had developed MBC following adjuvant chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. Both patients had progressed after initial treatments like fulvestrant, paclitaxel, and letrozole or nab-paclitaxel.

In both cases, eribulin mesylate was administered at a dose of 1.4 mg/m² on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. Here's a brief overview of each patient's experience:

Case 1: The patient continues to receive eribulin at a full dose, despite needing a temporary break for hip surgery and experiencing grade 1 neuropathy in her hands and feet.
Case 2: The patient experienced a partial response to eribulin, which lasted for 4 months. She tolerated the full dose despite a slight worsening of pre-existing neuropathy.

These cases suggest that eribulin can be a beneficial option for those with hormone-refractory MBC, even after they've tried multiple other treatments.

The Promise of Eribulin: A Step Forward

The EMBRACE trial, a phase III study, revealed that eribulin significantly prolonged median overall survival compared to treatment of physician's choice (13.1 months vs. 10.6 months). This suggests eribulin can improve outcomes in heavily pre-treated patients with MBC.

While eribulin demonstrated similar rates of serious adverse events compared to standard treatments, close monitoring for neutropenia and peripheral neuropathy is essential. Guidelines exist for managing these side effects through dose adjustments, allowing for continued treatment and improved quality of life.

Eribulin offers a valuable alternative for women with advanced MBC, particularly those with triple-negative or hormone-refractory disease. Its efficacy and manageable toxicity profile make it a promising option when other treatments have failed, providing hope and improved outcomes for patients facing limited choices.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4137/cmo.s27962, Alternate LINK

Title: Case Studies In The Management Of Metastatic Breast Cancer With Eribulin

Subject: Oncology

Journal: Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Sharon Wilks, Kristi Mcintyre

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is eribulin mesylate, and how does it work to combat breast cancer?

Eribulin mesylate, also known as Halaven, is a non-taxane microtubule dynamics inhibitor. This means it works by disrupting the way cancer cells divide and multiply. Unlike some other chemotherapy drugs, it doesn't directly target the microtubules themselves but interferes with their dynamics, ultimately leading to cancer cell death. It's a treatment option for women with hormone-refractory metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who have already tried other therapies.

What does it mean if someone has hormone-refractory metastatic breast cancer (MBC)?

Hormone-refractory metastatic breast cancer (MBC) occurs when breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized) and no longer responds to hormone therapies, such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors. This can happen because the cancer cells become resistant to these treatments over time. The implication is that alternative treatment strategies, like chemotherapy or targeted therapies, need to be explored to manage the disease.

What dosages and treatment schedules of eribulin mesylate were used?

In the cases presented, eribulin mesylate was administered at a dose of 1.4 mg/m² on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. One patient continued to receive eribulin at a full dose and the other patient experienced a partial response to eribulin, which lasted for 4 months. It is important to note that dosages and treatment schedules can vary and are determined by healthcare professionals based on individual patient needs and tolerances.

What was the EMBRACE trial, and what did it reveal about the effectiveness of eribulin?

The EMBRACE trial was a phase III study that evaluated the effectiveness of eribulin mesylate in women with metastatic breast cancer who had previously received multiple treatments. The trial demonstrated that eribulin significantly prolonged median overall survival compared to treatment of physician's choice (13.1 months vs. 10.6 months). This suggests that eribulin can improve outcomes in heavily pre-treated patients with MBC.

What are the potential side effects of eribulin mesylate, and how are they managed during treatment?

While the cases highlight positive outcomes, potential side effects of eribulin mesylate can include neuropathy (nerve damage), which can cause pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands and feet. The cases mentioned grade 1 neuropathy. Other common side effects can include fatigue, low white blood cell count, and hair loss. Managing these side effects is crucial for maintaining a patient's quality of life during treatment. Regular monitoring and supportive care are essential to address any adverse events that may arise.