A chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer and a type of soft-tissue cancer
Eribulin
A chemotherapy used for advanced breast cancer and liposarcoma, given as an injection into a vein.
What is Eribulin?
Eribulin is a chemotherapy used to treat advanced breast cancer that has spread, and a type of soft-tissue cancer called liposarcoma, usually after other treatments. It works by interfering with the internal scaffolding that cancer cells need to divide. It is given as an injection into a vein under the care of a cancer team. The main risks to be aware of are a drop in infection-fighting white blood cells (which raises the risk of serious infection), numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, and effects on the heart's rhythm.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Eribulin — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Eribulin is a chemotherapy medicine, a treatment that works against fast-dividing cancer cells. It is used for advanced or spread breast cancer, usually after other chemotherapy has been tried, and for a type of fatty soft-tissue cancer called liposarcoma. It belongs to a group of chemotherapies called microtubule inhibitors. It is given as an injection into a vein by a specialist cancer team, often in cycles with rest periods in between. Because it is a powerful treatment, it is carefully planned and monitored.
How it works
Cancer cells grow by dividing, and to divide they need to build and pull apart tiny internal scaffolding fibres called microtubules. Eribulin blocks the building of these fibres, so the cancer cells become stuck and cannot complete division, which leads them to die. Because the medicine also affects some healthy fast-dividing cells, such as those in the bone marrow that make blood cells and the nerves, it can cause side effects there. Giving it in cycles allows healthy tissues time to recover between treatments.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturers.
A specialist chemotherapy given by injection for advanced breast cancer and for a type of soft-tissue cancer called liposarcoma.
Practical use
How to take Eribulin
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- It is given as an injection into a vein by your cancer team, in cycles with rest periods in between.
- Contact your team urgently if you develop a high temperature, shivering or feel unwell, as this could be a serious infection.
- Report numbness, tingling, pain or weakness in your hands or feet, as the dose may need adjusting.
- Attend all blood tests before each treatment so your blood counts can be checked.
- Tell your team about all your other medicines, as some can affect the heart rhythm alongside eribulin.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Eribulin
Advantages
- An option for advanced breast cancer and for liposarcoma, often when other treatments have been tried.
- Given in cycles that allow healthy tissues time to recover between treatments.
- Works in a specific way to stop cancer cells dividing.
Disadvantages
- Lowers infection-fighting white blood cells, raising the risk of serious infection.
- Can cause numbness and tingling in the hands and feet that may persist.
- Can affect the heart's rhythm and commonly causes tiredness, nausea and hair thinning.
Practical use
Good to know
The most important safety point with eribulin is that it lowers the number of infection-fighting white blood cells, a problem called neutropenia, which can leave you much more vulnerable to serious infection; a high temperature, shivering or feeling generally unwell should be treated as an emergency. Another common effect is peripheral neuropathy, numbness, tingling, pain or weakness in the hands and feet, which should be reported because the dose may need adjusting. Eribulin can also affect the heart's electrical rhythm (the QT interval), so the team may check this and review your other medicines and your blood salts. Blood tests are done before each treatment to make sure your blood counts have recovered. Tiredness, nausea and hair thinning are also common.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to eribulin should not have it.
- It is generally avoided in pregnancy and while breastfeeding because of harm to the baby.
- It is used with caution in people with certain heart-rhythm problems or significant liver problems, under specialist judgement.
Monitoring
- Blood tests before each treatment to check blood counts have recovered.
- Watching for and grading numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
- Checking the heart's rhythm and blood salts where appropriate.
Side effects
- A drop in infection-fighting white blood cells, raising the risk of serious infection.
- Numbness, tingling, pain or weakness in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy).
- Tiredness, nausea, hair thinning and, less commonly, changes in the heart's rhythm.
Key interactions
- Other medicines that affect the heart's QT interval should be reviewed when taking eribulin.
- Low levels of blood salts such as potassium or magnesium can add to heart-rhythm risk and are checked.
- Tell your team about all medicines, including those that affect the bone marrow.
Available as: A solution given as an injection into a vein.
Answers
Eribulin: frequently asked questions
What is eribulin used for?
It is a chemotherapy used to treat advanced or spread breast cancer, usually after other treatments, and a type of soft-tissue cancer called liposarcoma.
Why am I more likely to get infections?
Eribulin lowers your infection-fighting white blood cells, so a high temperature or feeling unwell should be reported urgently as it could be a serious infection.
What causes the tingling in my hands and feet?
Eribulin can affect the nerves, causing numbness, tingling or weakness in the hands and feet; tell your team, as the dose may need adjusting.
How is it given?
It is given as an injection into a vein by your cancer team, usually in cycles with rest periods to let healthy tissues recover.
Does it affect the heart?
It can affect the heart's electrical rhythm, so your team may check this and review your other medicines and blood salts.
The wider class
About Chemotherapy (microtubule inhibitor)
Eribulin belongs to the chemotherapy (microtubule inhibitor) class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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