paclitaxel + cisplatin + capecitabine

**paclitaxel + cisplatin + capecitabine** is a three-drug chemotherapy combination used in oncology, primarily investigated as **induction chemotherapy for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma** and potentially other solid tumors. It comprises three agents with complementary mechanisms: - **Paclitaxel** is a taxane-class cytotoxic agent that stabilizes microtubules, preventing depolymerization and thus inhibiting mitosis. - **Cisplatin** is a platinum compound that induces DNA crosslinking, causing DNA damage and triggering apoptosis in rapidly dividing cells. - **Capecitabine** is an oral prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), converted in tumor tissue, which inhibits thymidylate synthase and impairs DNA synthesis. Clinical studies suggest the combination offers improved **failure-free survival** compared to cisplatin plus fluorouracil regimen in stage IVA–IVB nasopharyngeal carcinoma and can be administered with manageable toxicity[3]. Paclitaxel may synergize with capecitabine due to taxane-induced upregulation of thymidine phosphorylase, increasing capecitabine’s tumor specificity. The regimen utilizes both intravenous and oral administration routes, allowing convenient outpatient management.

Other names

paclitaxel + cisplatin + capecitabine