title: Preclinical mechanisms of action of docetaxel and docetaxel combinations in prostate cancer.
abstract: Docetaxel, a semisynthetic taxane, has exhibited significant single-agent activity against prostatic tumors. In phase I/II studies, single-agent docetaxel and the combination of docetaxel plus estramustine were effective in inducing prostate-specific antigen reductions of > or =50% in men with androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC). The underlying reason for docetaxel's clinical activity against prostate cancer has been a focus of ongoing research. Docetaxel is believed to have a twofold mechanism of antineoplastic activity: (1) inhibition of microtubular depolymerization, and (2) attenuation of the effects of bcl-2 and bcl-xL gene expression. Taxane-induced microtubule stabilization arrests cells in the G(2)M phase of the cell cycle and induces bcl-2 phosphorylation, thereby promoting a cascade of events that ultimately leads to apoptotic cell death. In preclinical studies, docetaxel had a higher affinity for tubulin and was shown to be a more potent inducer of bcl-2 phosphorylation than paclitaxel. Laboratory evidence also supports the clinical evaluation of docetaxel-based combinations that include agents such as trastuzumab and/or estramustine. The pathways for docetaxel-induced apoptosis appear to differ in androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Further elucidation of these differences will be instrumental in designing targeted regimens for the treatment of localized and advanced prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0946, USA.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Pienta
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D043823:Taxoids; D014404:Tubulin; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D043823:Taxoids; D014404:Tubulin; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel