Abstract

Taxanes are important chemotherapeutic agents with proven efficacy in human cancers, but their use is limited by resistance development. We report here the preclinical characteristics of cabazitaxel (XRP6258), a semisynthetic taxane developed to overcome taxane resistance. Cabazitaxel effects on purified tubulin and on taxane-sensitive or chemotherapy-resistant tumor cells were evaluated in vitro. Antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered cabazitaxel were assessed in tumor-bearing mice. In vitro, cabazitaxel stabilized microtubules as effectively as docetaxel but was 10-fold more potent than docetaxel in chemotherapy-resistant tumor cells (IC50 ranges: cabazitaxel, 0.013-0.414 μmol/L; docetaxel, 0.17-4.01 μmol/L). The active concentrations of cabazitaxel in these cell lines were achieved easily and maintained for up to 96 hours in the tumors of mice bearing MA16/C tumors treated with cabazitaxel at 40 mg/kg. Cabazitaxel exhibited antitumor efficacy in a broad spectrum of murine and human tumors (melanoma B16, colon C51, C38, HCT 116, and HT-29, mammary MA17/A and MA16/C, pancreas P03 and MIA PaCa-2, prostate DU 145, lung A549 and NCI-H460, gastric N87, head and neck SR475, and kidney Caki-1). Of particular note, cabazitaxel was active in tumors poorly sensitive or innately resistant to docetaxel (Lewis lung, pancreas P02, colon HCT-8, gastric GXF-209, mammary UISO BCA-1) or with acquired docetaxel resistance (melanoma B16/TXT). Cabazitaxel is as active as docetaxel in docetaxel-sensitive tumor models but is more potent than docetaxel in tumor models with innate or acquired resistance to taxanes and other chemotherapies. These studies were the basis for subsequent clinical evaluation.

Highlights

  • Microtubules are highly dynamic cytoskeletal fibers composed of 2 tubulin subunits

  • Cabazitaxel was active in tumors poorly sensitive or innately resistant to docetaxel (Lewis lung, pancreas P02, colon HCT-8, gastric GXF-209, mammary UISO BCA-1) or with acquired docetaxel resistance

  • Cabazitaxel is as active as docetaxel in docetaxel-sensitive tumor models but is more potent than docetaxel in tumor models with innate or acquired resistance to taxanes and other chemotherapies

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Microtubules are highly dynamic cytoskeletal fibers composed of 2 tubulin subunits (a and b). The polymerization and depolymerization of these molecules are crucial processes, to mitosis and to intracellular trafficking. Microtubules are the main target of taxanes, which bind to a specific binding site on the tubulin b-subunit [1, 2]. The taxanes paclitaxel and docetaxel suppress microtubule dynamics by promoting tubulin assembly and stabilizing microtubules [3], blocking mitosis at the metaphase/anaphase transition, which results in cell death This was recently reported as one of the main mechanisms of taxane action

Methods
Results
Conclusion

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.