Taxanes in combined-modality therapy for solid tumors.
The taxanes, paclitaxel and docetaxel, are novel antimitotic agents that are under extensive investigation in clinical trials in patients with various solid tumors. The taxanes have demonstrated significant activity against many solid tumors as single agents and in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, paclitaxel and docetaxel arrest cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, which is the most radiosensitive phase. Numerous clinical trials have assessed paclitaxel-based chemoradiation therapy in a variety of tumor types, including non-small-cell lung cancer, small-cell lung cancer, head and neck cancers, esophageal cancer, brain tumors, pancreatic and gastric tumors, and locally advanced breast cancer. Fewer clinical trials have assessed docetaxel plus radiation therapy in these tumor types. This review highlights recent clinical trials of the taxanes in combination with radiation therapy for solid tumors.
Choy
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Department of Radiation Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D043823:Taxoids
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel