Docetaxel: a tubulin-stabilizing agent approved for the management of several solid tumors.
Docetaxel is a semisynthetic taxane that acts by binding to the beta-tubulin subunit of the microtubules, resulting in cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. It is approved for the management of early and advanced breast cancer, locally advanced and metastatic lung cancer and hormone refractory prostate cancer. Docetaxel has also shown significant antitumor activity in ovarian and gastric tumors and has very recently been approved for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Severe neutropenia is the major dose-limiting toxicity with the approved three-weekly regimens, although alternate weekly schedules with less myelotoxicity have been developed for patients with poor bone marrow reserve. This article will review the pharmacology and trials leading to the clinical approval of this agent.
Ramaswamy
Bhuvaneswari
B
Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. bhuvaneswari.ramaswamy@osumc.edu
Puhalla
Shannon
S
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004347:Drug Interactions; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D000077143:Docetaxel