paclitaxel + capecitabine

Paclitaxel + capecitabine is a combination chemotherapy regimen used primarily in the treatment of various cancers, most notably metastatic breast cancer. Paclitaxel is a microtubule-stabilizing agent that binds to and stabilizes microtubules, preventing their depolymerization and thereby inhibiting cell division at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. This disruption leads to mitotic arrest and apoptosis in rapidly dividing cancer cells[6]. Capecitabine is an orally administered prodrug that is converted into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) within tumor tissues. 5-FU acts as an antimetabolite by interfering with DNA synthesis through inhibition of thymidylate synthase and incorporation into RNA and DNA, ultimately leading to apoptosis[2][5]. The combination has demonstrated synergistic antitumor activity with manageable toxicity profiles in clinical studies for metastatic breast cancer[8].

Brand names

Abraxane

Other names

XELODAABI-007 (for nab-paclitaxel)protein-bound paclitaxel