Paclitaxel is an active drug in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer as first-line treatment and in patients with recurrent or refractory disease, including patients who have failed to respond to previous anthracycline therapy. Recent studies with paclitaxel using a weekly schedule of administration have demonstrated higher tumor response rates and disease free survival accompanied by a shift in the frequency of certain toxicities, increased dose intensity and a potential means to improve the treatment schedule of paclitaxel for improved patient benefit.