Docetaxel: a tubulin-stabilizing agent approved for the management of several solid tumors

Docetaxel is a semisynthetic taxane that acts by binding to the beta-tubulin subunit of the microtubules, resulting in cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. It is approved for the management of early and advanced breast cancer, locally advanced and metastatic lung cancer and hormone refractory prostate cancer. Docetaxel has also shown significant antitumor activity in ovarian and gastric tumors and has very recently been approved for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Severe neutropenia is the major dose-limiting toxicity with the approved three-weekly regimens, although alternate weekly schedules with less myelotoxicity have been developed for patients with poor bone marrow reserve. This article will review the pharmacology and trials leading to the clinical approval of this agent.