Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel
Published on: May 14, 2018
Paclitaxel-Based Chemotherapy Targeting Cancer Stem Cells from Mono- to Combination Therapy
Hend M Nawara1, Said M Afify1,2, Ghmkin Hassan1,3
1Department of Biotechnology and Drug Discovery, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
Paclitaxel (PTX) is a vital chemotherapy drug that targets microtubules to fight cancer. Overcoming cancer resistance to PTX is crucial, and combining it with other agents offers promising therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Paclitaxel (PTX) is a widely used chemotherapy agent for various cancers.
- Its primary mechanism involves disrupting microtubule dynamics, leading to mitotic arrest and cell death.
- Cancer resistance to PTX presents a significant clinical challenge, contributing to treatment failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the known mechanisms of Paclitaxel (PTX).
- To review current research on PTX's anticancer activity and resistance.
- To explore promising combination therapies involving PTX.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on Paclitaxel (PTX) mechanisms.
- Analysis of research on PTX resistance in cancer.
- Compilation of data on PTX combination therapies.
Main Results:
- PTX effectively targets microtubules, inducing cancer cell death.
- Cancer resistance to PTX is a major obstacle in treatment.
- Combination therapies show potential for enhanced efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Understanding PTX mechanisms and resistance is key to improving cancer treatment.
- Combining PTX with other drugs offers a promising strategy to overcome resistance.
- Further research into PTX combinations is warranted for clinical application.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell...
Tumor Immunotherapy

