Phenoxodiol: pharmacology and clinical experience in cancer monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs.
BACKGROUND
Phenoxodiol is a synthetic derivative of the naturally occurring plant isoflavone genistein. The observation that an inverse relationship exists between dietary intake of isoflavones and cancer incidence has led to the evaluation of these compounds in cancer therapy.


OBJECTIVE
This article reviews the mechanisms of action of phenoxodiol and the completed and ongoing clinical studies evaluating this drug.


CONCLUSIONS
By altering the chemical structure of genistein, the new compound phenoxodiol showed increased anticancer activity without any increase in toxicity. In addition to its direct cytotoxic activity against different cancers, phenoxodiol sensitizes chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells to platinum and taxane drugs, as well as gemcitabine and topotecan. The US Food and Drug Administration has granted 'fast track' status to the development of phenoxodiol as chemosensitizer for platinum and taxane drugs used in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.
Yale University School of Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. dan-arin.silasi@yale.edu
Dan-Arin
DA
Silasi
Ayesha B
AB
Alvero
Thomas J
TJ
Rutherford
David
D
Brown
Gil
G
Mor
D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D007529:Isoflavones; C471183:phenoxodiol; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II