Like taxanes, abeotaxanes are diterpenes produced by the yew tree (genus Taxus). These agents inhibit the growth and replication of cancer cells by affecting microtubules. Taxanes are highly effective anti-cancer agents and are utilized as first and second-line therapy in the treatment of many solid-tumor cancers. Since the FDA approval of paclitaxel in 1998, subsequent research has focused on the synthesis of new and improved taxanes to address the issues of multi-drug resistance and central nervous system bioavailability, as well as on improvement of the side effect profile.
Taxchinin A was the first naturally occurring rearranged taxoid identified as an 11(15→1)-abeotaxane. Taxchinin B was the first identified 11(15→1)-abeotaxoid with an oxetane ring. The first natural taxoid, identified to have an 11(15→1)-abeotaxane ring was brevifoliol. TPI 287 (formerly ARC-100), a 11(15→1)-abeotaxane that was in phase I clinical development in 2010, has demonstrated potent activity in multi-drug resistant tumor types, including taxane-resistant tumors, as well as efficacy in crossing the blood–brain barrier.
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