Taxanes

Paclitaxel, sold under the brand name Taxol among others, is a chemotherapy medication used to treat ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, cervical cancer, and pancreatic cancer. It is administered by intravenous injection. There is also an albumin-bound formulation.

Docetaxel (DTX or DXL), sold under the brand name Taxotere among others, is a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of types of cancer. This includes breast cancer, head and neck cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer. It may be used by itself or along with other chemotherapy medication. It is given by slow injection into a vein.

Cabazitaxel, sold under the brand name Jevtana, is a semi-synthetic derivative of a natural taxoid. It is a microtubule inhibitor, and the fourth taxane to be approved as a cancer therapy.

Taxanes are a class of diterpenes. They were originally identified from plants of the genus Taxus (yews), and feature a taxadiene core. Paclitaxel (Taxol) and docetaxel (Taxotere) are widely used as chemotherapy agents. Cabazitaxel was FDA approved to treat hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

group of chemical compounds

Yunnanxane is a bioactive taxane diterpenoid first isolated from Taxus wallichiana. Yunnanxane was later isolated from cell cultures of Taxus cuspidata and Taxus chinensis. Four homologous esters of yunnanxane have also been isolated from Taxus. Yunnanxane is reported to have anticancer activity in vitro.

Ongoing research into paclitaxel synthesis

Tesetaxel is an orally administered taxane being investigated as a chemotherapy agent for various types of cancer, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, and other solid tumors. It differs from other members of the taxane class (e.g. paclitaxel or docetaxel) in that it is administered orally, not intravenously.

Ortataxel is a drug used in chemotherapy. , Spectrum Pharmaceuticals has the drug in a Phase 2 clinical trial.

Larotaxel (code names XRP9881, RPR109881) is a drug of the taxane type that has been used experimentally in chemotherapy.

Taxadiene (taxa-4,11-diene) is a diterpene. Taxadiene is the first committed intermediate in the synthesis of taxol. Six hydroxylation reactions, and a few others, are needed to convert taxadiene to baccatin III.