II. Indications
- FDA Approved
- Off-Label
- Head and neck cancer (advanced)
- Gastrointestinal Tract Adenocarcinoma (gastric, esophageal, colon)
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Prostate Cancer (Hormone refractory)
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma (urothelial cancer)
- Uterine Cancer
III. Contraindications
- Polyoxyethylated Castor Oil (Cremophor EL) allergy
IV. Mechanism
- See Mitotic Inhibitor Chemotherapy
- Paclitaxel is a taxane Antineoplastic Agent
- Derived from extract of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia)
- Paclitaxel has antineoplastic activity as a an antitubulin agent
- Binds and stabilizes tubulin
- Inhibits microtubule disassembly
- Results in Cell Cycle arrest in G2/M phase
- Paclitaxel induces apoptosis
V. Medications
- Paclitaxel injection solution
- Doses available from 30 mg/5 ml to 300 mg/50 ml
VI. Dosing
- See other references for disease specific dosing protocols
VII. Adverse Effects
- Hypersensitivity Reaction (including Anaphylaxis)
- Myelosuppression (Bone Marrow suppression) with Neutropenia
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Future impaired fertility
- Alopecia
- Nausea
- Myalgias
- Cardiac conduction abnormalities
VIII. Safety
- Avoid in Lactation
- Avoid in pregnancy (all trimesters)
- Use reliable Contraception
- Monitoring
IX. Drug Interactions
- Agents that increase Paclitaxel levels
X. Resources
- Paclitaxel (DailyMed)
- Paclitaxel (StatPearls)
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
| Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | A drug used to treat breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma. It is also used together with another drug to treat non-small cell lung cancer. Paclitaxel is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. It blocks cell growth by stopping cell division and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of antimitotic agent. |
| Definition (NCI) | A compound extracted from the Pacific yew tree Taxus brevifolia with antineoplastic activity. Paclitaxel binds to tubulin and inhibits the disassembly of microtubules, thereby resulting in the inhibition of cell division. This agent also induces apoptosis by binding to and blocking the function of the apoptosis inhibitor protein Bcl-2 (B-cell Leukemia 2). (NCI04) |
| Definition (NCI) | Any formulation containing paclitaxel, an antimitotic taxane. |
| Definition (MSH) | A cyclodecane isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, TAXUS BREVIFOLIA. It stabilizes MICROTUBULES in their polymerized form leading to cell death. |
| Definition (CSP) | extract from the Pacific yew tree Taxus brevifolia which stabilizes microtubles and is therefore used as a cytologic probe for microtubule function, and clinically as an antineoplastic; do not confuse with a bile salt laxative with the trade name Taxol. |
| Definition (PDQ) | A compound extracted from the Pacific yew tree Taxus brevifolia with antineoplastic activity. Paclitaxel binds to tubulin and inhibits the disassembly of microtubules, thereby resulting in the inhibition of cell division. This agent also induces apoptosis by binding to and blocking the function of the apoptosis inhibitor protein Bcl-2 (B-cell Leukemia 2). Check for "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=39762&idtype=1" active clinical trials or "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=39762&idtype=1&closed=1" closed clinical trials using this agent. ("http://nciterms.nci.nih.gov:80/NCIBrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&code=C1411" NCI Thesaurus) |
| Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
| MSH | D017239 |
| SnomedCT | 387374002, 67735003 |
| LNC | LP101036-4, MTHU036235 |
| English | Benzenepropanoic acid, beta-(benzoylamino)-alpha-hydroxy-, 6,12b-bis(acetyloxy)-12-(benzoyloxy)-2a,3,4,4a,5,6,9,10,11,12,12a,12b-dodecahydro-4,11-dihydroxy-4a,8,13,13-tetramethyl-5-oxo-7,11-methano-1H-cyclodeca(3,4)benz(1,2-b)oxet-9-yl ester, (2aR-(2aalpha,4beta,4abeta,6beta,9alpha(alphaR*,betaS*),11alpha,1-2alpha,12aalpha,12balpha))-, 5Beta,20-epoxy-1,2alpha,4,7beta,10beta,13alpha-hexahydroxytax-11-en-9-one, 4,10-Diacetate 2-Benzoate 13-Ester with (2R,3S)-N-Benzoyl-3-phenylisoserine, [2aR-[2a Alpha,4beta,4a beta,6beta,9alpha(alphaR*,betaS*),-11alpha,12alpha,12a alpha,12b alpha]]-beta-(benzoylamino)-alpha-hydroxybenzene-propanoic acid 6,12b-bis(acetyloxy)-12-(benzoyloxy)-1a,33,4,-41,5,6,9,10,11,12,12a,12b-dodecahydro-4,11-dihydroxy-41,8,-12,13-tetramethyl-5-oxo-7,11-methano-1H-cyclodeca[3,4]benz[1,2-b]oxet-9-yl Ester, paclitaxel, Paclitaxel Preparation, PACLITAXEL, paclitaxel (medication), Paclitaxel [Chemical/Ingredient], Benzenepropanoic acid, beta-(benzoylamino)-alpha-hydroxy-, 6,12b-bis(acetyloxy)-12-(benzoyloxy)-2a,3,4,4a,5,6,9,10,11,12,12a,12b-dodecahydro-4,11-dihydroxy-4a,8,13,13-tetramethyl-5-oxo-7,11-methano-1H-cyclodeca(3,4)benz(1,2-b)oxet-9-yl ester, (2aR-(2aalph, PACLitaxel, Paclitaxel (product), Paclitaxel (substance), TAX, Paclitaxel |
| Swedish | Paklitaxel |
| Czech | taxol, paclitaxel |
| Finnish | Paklitakseli |
| Russian | PAKLITAKSEL, TAKSOL, ПАКЛИТАКСЕЛ, ТАКСОЛ |
| Polish | Paklitaksel, Taksol |
| Japanese | タキソール, パクリタキセル |
| French | Taxol, Paclitaxel |
| Spanish | paclitaxel (producto), paclitaxel (sustancia), paclitaxel, Paclitaxel |
| German | Paclitaxel |
| Italian | Paclitaxel |
| Portuguese | Paclitaxel |
