taxanecontaining

Taxane-containing refers to chemical substances or medicinal preparations that include a taxane moiety, a class of diterpenoid compounds originally derived from Taxus species. The most widely used taxanes in medicine are paclitaxel (Taxol), docetaxel (Taxotere), and cabazitaxel (Jevtana). An albumin-bound formulation of paclitaxel, known as nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane), is also commonly described as taxane-containing.

Taxanes exert their anticancer effect by binding to beta-tubulin and stabilizing microtubules, thereby inhibiting their depolymerization. This disrupts normal spindle function during mitosis, leading to mitotic arrest and apoptosis in dividing cancer cells.

Clinically, taxane-containing therapies are used to treat a range of cancers. Paclitaxel is employed in ovarian, breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers, among others. Docetaxel is used for breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, and head and neck cancers. Cabazitaxel is indicated for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after failure of docetaxel. Formulations such as nab-paclitaxel aim to improve delivery and reduce certain solvent-related toxicities.

Production of taxanes historically relied on extraction from yew trees, notably the Pacific yew. Today they are produced through extraction, semisynthetic modification, and, in some cases, total synthesis, with IV administration being standard for most regimens.

Adverse effects commonly include myelosuppression, neuropathy, fatigue, mucositis, alopecia, and hypersensitivity reactions (particularly with paclitaxel formulated with Cremophor EL, necessitating premedication). Drug resistance can arise via P-glycoprotein–mediated efflux and tubulin alterations.

Research continues into next-generation formulations, combination therapies, and strategies to overcome resistance, aiming to broaden efficacy while mitigating toxicity of taxane-containing treatments.