Paclitaxel poliglumex for ovarian cancer.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Despite an 80% initial response rate to the standard primary regimen of carboplatin and paclitaxel, most women with ovarian cancer will experience recurrence with incurable disease within five years and will be treated with several successive palliative regimens. Consequently, a significant need exists for chemotherapeutic agents, which are not only clinically efficacious, but have acceptable side-effect profiles. Paclitaxel poliglumex (PPX) is a recently developed taxane in which paclitaxel is conjugated to poly(l-glutamic acid), which renders it water soluble, reduces hypersensitivity reactions and preferentially targets it to the tumor.

AREAS COVERED:

This review covers pre-clinical pharmacokinetic data and key Phase I and II clinical trial results in ovarian cancer.

EXPERT OPINION:

While PPX is active in ovarian cancer, it is unclear at present whether it offers significant benefit in terms of its side-effect profile or outcomes over a standard taxane-based regimen as first-line therapy, or what role it will have in maintenance therapy as studies are ongoing.

• Authors: Vijaya L Galic, Jason D Wright, Sharyn N Lewin, Thomas J Herzog
• Journal: Expert opinion on investigational drugs (Expert Opin Investig Drugs) Vol. 20 Issue 6 Pg. 813-21 (Jun 2011) ISSN: 1744-7658 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21470062 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Polyglutamic Acid
• Paclitaxel
• paclitaxel poliglumex

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (adverse effects, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Female
• Humans
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
• Ovarian Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Paclitaxel (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Palliative Care (methods)
• Polyglutamic Acid (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Solubility
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome