Taxanes esophageal cancer

Docetaxel, another taxane, binds to tubulin to promote microtubule assembly. The pharmacokinetics of docetaxel are best described by a three-compartment model, with an a half-life of 0.08 hours, a 3 half-life of 1.6 to 1.8 hours, and a terminal half-life of 65 to 73 hours.14 Docetaxel has activity in the treatment of breast, non-small cell lung, prostate, bladder, esophageal, stomach, ovary, and head and neck cancers. Dexamethasone, 8 mg twice daily for 3 days starting the day before treatment, is used to prevent the fluid retention syndrome associated with docetaxel and possible hypersensitivity reactions. The fluid... 

The first compound of the taxanes series, paclitaxel (Taxol), was isolated from the bark of the Western yew tree in 1971. It and its congenic, the semisynthetic docetaxel (Taxotere), exhibit unique pharmacological actions as inhibitors of mitosis, differing from the vinca alkaloids and colchicine derivatives in that they bind to a different site on P-tubulin and promote rather than inhibit microtubule formation. The drugs have a central role in the therapy of ovarian, breast, lung, esophageal, bladder, and head and neck cancers. 

---