Recent developments in antitumour taxoids

Abstract

Since the FDA approval of paclitaxel (Taxol^®, Bristol-Myers Squibb) and docetaxel (Taxotere^®, Rhône-Poulenc Rorer SA, now Aventis) as anticancer drugs, a number of new analogues have been prepared with the view of obtaining taxoids with better potency and bioavailability to targeted cells, as well as taxoids efficient in targeting multi-drug resistant cancer or taxoids acting as modulators of multi-drug resistance (MDR). Studies have also been performed in the search for improved methods in the natural or synthetic preparation of these important anticancer drugs. This review summarises the key aspects of recent patent applications relating to antitumour taxoids that have been published between January 2000 and December 2002. In particular, the review focuses on new processes for the isolation and preparation of antitumour taxoids, new potent taxoids and analogues with improved solubility, as well as taxoid formulation, delivery and association.

• antimitotic drug
• association
• docetaxel
• formulation
• isolation
• multi-drug resistance (MDR) modulator
• paclitaxel
• production
• solubility
• taxane
• Taxol
• Taxotere
• taxoid