title: Taxanes: a new class of antitumor agents.
abstract: Taxanes belong to a new group of antineoplastic agents with a novel mechanism of action for a cytotoxic drug. They promote microtubule assembly and stabilize the microtubules. Paclitaxel, the first agent in this group to become available, was isolated from the Pacific yew, Taxus brevifolia, in 1971. In preclinical and clinical studies, paclitaxel and its semisynthetic analog docetaxel exhibit significant antitumor activity. This review deals with the physicochemical properties, pharmacology, and results of preclinical and clinical trials of the taxanes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Slotervaart Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Huizing
authors.forename: V H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Misser
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: ten Bokkel Huinink
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Veenhof
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vermorken
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Pinedo
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Beijnen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043823:Taxoids
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel