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Epothilones in the treatment of ovarian cancer

    Ivan Diaz-Padilla

    Princess Margaret Hospital, Bras Family Drug Development Program, Division of Medical Oncology, 610 University Avenue, Room 5-700, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada

    &
    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.11.26

    Epothilones are a new group of microtubule-stabilizing agents that have demonstrated antitumor activity in taxane-resistant models. Taxanes remain some of the most active cytotoxic agents in current cancer therapy. Primary or acquired resistance to taxanes in tumor cells partly prevents their long-term efficacy. Certain side effects, such as myelosupression or irreversible neuropathy, can also limit prolonged taxane administration. Epothilone B (EPO906; patupilone), a natural compound, and its semisynthetic derivative, ixabepilone (BMS-247550), differ in their pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiles. Ovarian cancer patients frequently relapse after first-line treatment based on platinum–taxane doublets. Therefore, epothilones might represent a therapeutic alternative in this setting. Patupilone and ixabepilone have undergone parallel clinical development, but their future role in ovarian cancer therapeutics remains ill defined.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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