ABI 007 [Abraxane], a nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab) formulation of paclitaxel, demonstrated efficacy superior to that of standard solvent-based paclitaxel [Taxol] in patients with metastatic breast cancer in a head-to-head comparative study. Data from this study were presented in a late-breaker session at the 26th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) [San Antonio, US; December 2003] by Dr Joyce O'Shaughnessy from the Baylor-Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, US Oncology, Dallas, US. The study results showed that overall response rates and time to tumour progression were significantly increased in patients treated with ABI 007, compared with paclitaxel recipients. Importantly, although they did not receive routine concomitant corticosteroids for hypersensitivity prophylaxis, patients treated with ABI 007 experienced significantly less hypersensitivity and flushing than paclitaxel recipients who did receive concomitant corticosteroids.