Chloroquine With Taxane Chemotherapy for Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer After Anthracycline Failure (CAT)

The purpose of this study is to determine the anti-tumor activity of the combination of Chloroquine combined with a Taxane or Taxane-like chemo agents(Paclitaxel, Docetaxel, Abraxane, Ixabepilone). The laboratories have developed robust preclinical models utilizing both in vitro systems such as the mammosphere (MS) culture and in vivo systems such as human breast cancer xenografts allowing the investigators to identify agents which selectively target TICs, as single agents or in combination. These models are critical since tumor initiating cells (TICs) comprise only a small percentage of the tumor bulk, so that clinical tumor regression may not be observed with inhibitors that selectively target TIC self-renewal alone. Nonetheless, these agents in combination with conventional therapy may effectively kill both actively cycling or fully differentiated cells and the TIC subpopulation, leading to long term remission and eradication of cancer cells.