Patupilone in cancer treatment

Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2011 Jan;20(1):107-17. doi: 10.1517/13543784.2011.542148. Epub 2010 Dec 11.

Abstract

Importance of the field: Since the introduction of taxane-based chemotherapy for advanced solid tumors in the 1990s, the median overall survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer increased from 2 years to almost 5 years. Similarly, the 5-year overall survival for ovarian cancer has increased from 30% to more than 40%.

Areas covered in this review: Patupilone is a novel cytotoxic compound, with similar microtubule-binding and apoptotic properties of taxanes and is active in taxane-resistant cell lines. Over 1200 patients have been treated with patupilone in Phase I - III clinical trials and a wealth of knowledge has accumulated about this compound. This review discusses current pharmacology and data from clinical trials with patupilone from the last seven years.

What the reader will gain: We present a comprehensive summary of data from Phase II and III trials, as well as an overview of currently accruing trials.

Take home message: Although patupilone has not demonstrated superiority over pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in a large Phase III trial in relapsed or refractory ovarian cancer, its evaluation is continuing in a range of other malignancies, especially in primary or secondary tumors of the CNS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Epothilones / pharmacology
  • Epothilones / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Survival Rate
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology
  • Tubulin Modulators / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Epothilones
  • Tubulin Modulators
  • epothilone B