Taxol resistance

Background: Taxol has gained considerable attention in cancer therapy in re cent years and is successfully used in treating a variety of tu mo rs, incl uding those of the breast, ovary and lung. Despite its preclinical and clin ical success, the ability of tumors to develop an acquired resistance to dr ugs used for treatment remains a major obstacle to cancer cure. A better un derstanding of the various mechanisms of Taxol resistance may have importan t implications for strategies designed for cancer treatment. Method: This r eview summarizes the information available to date concerning the effects o f Taxol and the development of drug resistance, focusing particularly on al terations in microtubules. Results and Discussion: Acquired resistance to T axol is a function of multiple adaptations. Although the cellular transport of Taxol appears to be an important mechanism of resistance to Taxol, alte red transcription and posttranslational modification of microtubular change s may be involved in the mechanism of drug resistance. Copyright (C) 2000 S . Karger AG, Basel.