FDA Approval of Eribulin for Liposarcoma Treatment – 2016

Eribulin (Halaven®), which received FDA approval on 28 January 2016, is used in patients previously given anthracycline-containing treatment whose disease cannot be surgically removed, with liposarcoma. Liposarcomas are malignant tumors of fat tissue. Eribulin, which received its first approval in 2010, inhibits the functioning of microtubules that form the cell’s skeleton. Microtubules have many features; their prominent functions include roles during cell division and the transport of receptors on the cell surface.

When microtubules cannot function adequately, the cancer cell can no longer multiply and dies. The most common side effects are decreased white blood cells (neutropenia), anemia, fatigue, baldness and nausea.