In English | En español
Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

NCI Drug Dictionary


docetaxel  Patient Information
A semi-synthetic, second-generation taxane derived from a compound found in the European yew tree Taxus baccata. Docetaxel displays potent and broad antineoplastic properties; it binds to and stabilizes tubulin, thereby inhibiting microtubule disassembly which results in cell- cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and cell death. This agent also inhibits pro-angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and displays immunomodulatory and pro-inflammatory properties by inducing various mediators of the inflammatory response. Docetaxel has been studied for use as a radiation-sensitizing agent. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)
US brand name:Taxotere
Abbreviation:TXT
Code name:RP 56976
Chemical structures:[2aR-[2a alphaa,4beta,4a beta,6beta,9alpha,(alphaR*,betaS*),-11alpha,12alpha,12a alpha,12b alpha]]-beta-[[(1,1-dimethylethoxy)carbonyl]-amino]-alpha-hydroxybenzemepropanoic acid 12b-(Acetyloxy)-12(benzyloxy)-2a,3,4,4a,5,6,8,10,11,12,12a,12b-dodecahydeo-4,-6,11-trihydroxy-4a,8,13,13-tetramethyl-5-oxo-7,11-methano-1H-cyclodeca[3,4]benz[1,2-b]oxet-9-yl ester
N-debenzoyl-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-10-deacetyltaxol