Taxol and Xyotax

Paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb under the brand name "Taxol," is combined with cisplatin, another chemotherapy drug, for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Taxol is administered as a first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer only if a patient cannot use more curative strategies such as surgery or radiation therapy.

Taxol

Paclitaxel was originally derived from Pacific Yew tree bark, but it is now made semi-synthetically. It was approved as a chemotherapy treatment for metastatic cancer of the ovaries in 1992 and for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in 1998. Taxol is administered intravenously.

Taxol combats cancer growths by interfering with the process of cellular division or "mitosis" within cells. Here's a glimpse into how it works: Inside of cells are various structures and organelles. These cellular parts carry out such tasks as relaying messages, transporting materials, and assisting in mitosis. Microtubules are structures within cells that move materials and provide structural support. They are composed of tubulin strands and assist in the process of mitosis by separating duplicate, DNA-carrying chromatids from each other and by structuring new "daughter cells." Taxol and various other "antimitotic" drugs prevent mitosis by interfering with a microtubule's tubulin strands.

In an attempt to improve the effectiveness of Taxol, researchers are now developing a new paclitaxel-based treatment, Xyotax.

Xyotax

Xyotax, a paclitaxel-based chemotherapy drug that is still under development, reduces the amount of time paclitaxel chemotherapy takes, decreases the chance that a patient will have an allergic response to the treatment, and minimizes potential paclitaxel side effects. Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI), the company developing Xyotax, has placed its focus on finding ways to make current cancer drugs, such as Taxol, more effective and less toxic. Knowing that tumor blood vessels are more permeable to large molecules than normal blood vessels, drug developers at CTI reformulated Taxol in such a way that it would be absorbed and trapped by tumor tissue but not by normal tissue. The cancer targeting abilities of Xyotax make it more effective and less toxic than paclitaxel alone.

Xyotax has been granted "fast track designation" by the FDA for the treatment of "poor performance status" patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The FDA expedites the approval process for certain drugs because they "address unmet medical needs," and "treat serious or life threatening conditions." For more information on the fast track designation of Xyotax, visit the FDA's website at www.fda.gov.

What Are the Side Effects of Paclitaxel?

Paclitaxel's most common side effects are a reduction in red and white blood cells, infection, hair loss, and nausea. Some patients may also experience an allergic reaction to the treatment. Allergies can be suppressed before treatment begins through administration of antihistamines and steroids. Xyotax, if approved, may significantly reduce these side effects.

How Can I Learn More About Taxol and Xyotax?

If you have non-small cell lung cancer and are not a good candidate for surgery or radiation therapy, Taxol may be the right chemotherapy drug for you. Your doctor will be able to give you information that fits your individual circumstances. If you are interested in Taxol or Xyotax, receive news updates by subscribing to our free lung cancer newsletter.