Related pages Drug Information Summaries 1 Approval Process for New Cancer Treatments 2 Access to Investigational Drugs: Q & A 3

This page contains brief information about paclitaxel and a collection of links to more information about the use of this drug, related news and research results, and ongoing clinical trials.

US Brand Name(s):		Taxol
FDA Approved:		Yes

Paclitaxel is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ovarian and breast cancer, and AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma. It is also approved to be used together with a drug called cisplatin to treat advanced ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Paclitaxel is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary ⁴ - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

Clinical Trial Results: Taxane Combinations Marginally Better than Anthracyclines for Metastatic Breast Cancer (05/21/2008) ⁵ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Paclitaxel Versus Docetaxel for Early Breast Cancer (04/30/2008) ⁶ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Ifosfamide Plus Paclitaxel Extends Life for Patients With Uterine Carcinosarcoma (03/05/2007) ⁷ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Impact of Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy on Quality of Life During Ovarian Cancer Treatment (02/14/2007) ⁸ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Maintenance Paclitaxel Does Not Delay Progression of Metastatic Breast Cancer (10/04/2006) ⁹ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: New Form of Paclitaxel Causes Fewer Side Effects in Advanced Breast Cancer (10/17/2005) ¹⁰ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Weekly Paclitaxel Before Any Other Treatment Improves Outcomes in Early-Stage Breast Cancer (09/12/2005) ¹¹ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Docetaxel Plus Carboplatin a Possible Alternative for Ovarian Cancer (11/23/2004) ¹² - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Dose-Dense Chemotherapy Helped Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer (06/05/2004) ¹³ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

NCI Issues Clinical Announcement for Preferred Method of Treatment for Ovarian Cancer: Questions and Answers (01/04/2006) ¹⁴ - Information from the NCI Press Office about this drug.

MedlinePlus Information on Paclitaxel ¹⁵ - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

• warnings about this drug,
• what this drug is used for and how it is used,
• what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
• what you should know about this drug before using it,
• other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
• possible side effects.

Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This NLM patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

Clinical Trials for Paclitaxel ¹⁶ - Check for trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry now accepting patients.

Glossary Terms

Cancer that has spread to other places in the body and usually cannot be cured or controlled with treatment.

Certain cancer types that are more likely to occur in people who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The most common types are Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Other AIDS-related cancers include Hodgkin disease and cancers of the lung, mouth, cervix, and digestive system.

Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

A drug used to treat many types of cancer. Cisplatin contains the metal platinum. It kills cancer cells by damaging their DNA and stopping them from dividing. Cisplatin is a type of alkylating agent.

An agency in the U.S. federal government whose mission is to protect public health by making sure that food, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements are safe to use and truthfully labeled. The Food and Drug Administration also makes sure that drugs, medical devices, and equipment are safe and effective, and that blood for transfusions and transplant tissue are safe. Also called FDA.

A type of cancer characterized by the abnormal growth of blood vessels that develop into skin lesions or occur internally.

A group of lung cancers that are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how the cells look under a microscope. The three main types of non-small cell lung cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common kind of lung cancer.

Cancer that forms in tissues of the ovary (one of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed). Most ovarian cancers are either ovarian epithelial carcinomas (cancer that begins in the cells on the surface of the ovary) or malignant germ cell tumors (cancer that begins in egg cells).