Taxol dose intensification and its clinical implications

Taxol is the most exciting new anticancer agent developed in the past two decades. Of great interest is its level of activity in ovarian cancer, as well as substantial activity in breast cancer, nonsmall-cell lung cancer, melanoma, and other malignancies. Recent studies suggest that when taxol is administered in a fashion to increase milligram dosage per unit time (mg/m2/week), the response rate in patients with ovarian cancer is markedly increased. This article reviews studies that suggest taxol dose intensity is important in the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer.