Generic placeholder image

Current Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 0929-8673
ISSN (Online): 1875-533X

Review Article

Overview of the Formulations and Analogs in the Taxanes' Story

Author(s): Farah Yassine, Elia Salibi and Hala Gali-Muhtasib

Volume 23, Issue 40, 2016

Page: [4540 - 4558] Pages: 19

DOI: 10.2174/0929867323666160907124013

Price: $65

conference banner
Abstract

Taxanes are a family of diterpenes produced by the yews (Taxus genus) that are extensively used in chemotherapy. The family encompasses paclitaxel, docetaxel and the recently added cabazitaxel, all of which were proven to be promising anti-cancer drugs. Due to the over harvesting danger threatening the yew trees as well as the many challenges faced by taxane-based chemotherapy, new formulations, analogs and delivery systems are required. Here, we undertook a structured search of the bibliographical database PubMed for peerreviewed research papers relying on key words and date of publication and organized the information based on the method of taxane drug delivery. Papers retrieved were from journals with significant impact and comparable scope. A total of 126 papers were reviewed, 81 of which published work related to the taxane formulations and nanoparticles, and 22 focused on the analogs derived from the three taxanes. Although recent articles investigate the effectiveness of taxane formulations, most of these formulations are still at the pre-clinical level. However, many of the taxane analogs are currently in clinical trials as second line treatment of aggressive cancers or are used in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs. The findings corroborate the importance of developing new drug delivery strategies and taxane analogs to improve the efficacy of currently used chemotherapeutic drugs. This finding is further supported by the FDA-approved formulation of paclitaxel that eliminates the need for toxic solvents for drug administration, and the docetaxel analog cabazitaxel which has decreased affinity for efflux pumps.

Keywords: Anti-cancer, taxanes, paclitaxel, docetaxel, cabazitaxel, formulation, analogs, drug delivery.


Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy