CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF TAXOL IN PRIMARY CULTURES OF TUMOR-CELLS FROM PATIENTS IS PARTLY MEDIATED BY CREMOPHOR EL

In patient tumour samples the activity in vitro of Taxol corresponded fairly well to the known clinical activity and Taxol showed low cross- resistance to standard cytotoxic drugs. However, the Taxol solvent Cre mophor EL-ethanol was considerably active alone, whereas paclitaxel fo rmulated in ethanol was less active. Taxol thus seems to contain two c omponents active against patient tumour cells in vitro.