Medical Pharmacology Chapter 33-34: Anticancer Drugs
Natural Products: Microtubule Antagonists
Taxanes:
Nab-Paclitaxel (Abraxane)
Overview:1,9
Nab-paclitaxel is in albumin-associated, water-soluble, paclitaxel formulation (a nanoparticle).
Nab-paclitaxel is a colloidal suspension suitable for infusion and approved for patients with:
Metastatic breast cancer
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Treatment of metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (in a combination protocol with carboplatin)
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First-line management of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (in a combination protocol gemcitabine).9
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Compared to paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel on one hand reaches a higher serum concentration yet exhibits increase clearance.1
As a result, systemic drug exposure appear similar.
Cellular uptake of nab-paclitaxel appears elevated compared to paclitaxel as result of an albumin-specific transport system.1
Nab-paclitaxel exhibits toxicities generally similar to other taxanes with neutropenia, identified as the dose-limiting toxicity.8
Neuropathy presents as a later adverse complication.