Biomaterial Database

Genetic toxicity and potential carcinogenicity of taxol. 1994

H Tinwell, and J Ashby

Zeneca Central Toxicology Laboratory, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.

The activity of the antineoplastic agent taxol depends upon its ability to inhibit tubulin disassembly in dividing cells. We show here that taxol gives a strong positive response in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. This is the first report of its genetic toxicity. The majority of antineoplastic agents are carcinogenic to humans, and the majority of human carcinogens are active in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. The present data therefore indicate a carcinogenic potential of taxol for humans, which should be considered in the risk-benefit analysis of its increasing clinical use.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008808	Mice, Inbred CBA	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.	Mice, CBA,Mouse, CBA,Mouse, Inbred CBA,CBA Mice,CBA Mice, Inbred,CBA Mouse,CBA Mouse, Inbred,Inbred CBA Mice,Inbred CBA Mouse
D002273	Carcinogens	Substances that increase the risk of NEOPLASMS in humans or animals. Both genotoxic chemicals, which affect DNA directly, and nongenotoxic chemicals, which induce neoplasms by other mechanism, are included.	Carcinogen,Oncogen,Oncogens,Tumor Initiator,Tumor Initiators,Tumor Promoter,Tumor Promoters,Initiator, Tumor,Initiators, Tumor,Promoter, Tumor,Promoters, Tumor
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004920	Erythropoiesis	The production of red blood cells (ERYTHROCYTES). In humans, erythrocytes are produced by the YOLK SAC in the first trimester; by the liver in the second trimester; by the BONE MARROW in the third trimester and after birth. In normal individuals, the erythrocyte count in the peripheral blood remains relatively constant implying a balance between the rate of erythrocyte production and rate of destruction.	Erythropoieses
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017239	Paclitaxel	A cyclodecane isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, TAXUS BREVIFOLIA. It stabilizes MICROTUBULES in their polymerized form leading to cell death.	7-epi-Taxol,Anzatax,Bris Taxol,NSC-125973,Onxol,Paclitaxel, (4 alpha)-Isomer,Paxene,Praxel,Taxol,Taxol A,7 epi Taxol,NSC 125973,NSC125973,Taxol, Bris
D048629	Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective	Defective nuclei produced during the TELOPHASE of MITOSIS or MEIOSIS by lagging CHROMOSOMES or chromosome fragments derived from spontaneous or experimentally induced chromosomal structural changes.	Chromosome-Defective Micronuclei,Genotoxicant-Induced Micronuclei,Micronuclei, Genotoxicant-Induced,Micronucleus, Chromosome-Defective,Chromosome Defective Micronuclei,Chromosome-Defective Micronucleus,Genotoxicant Induced Micronuclei,Genotoxicant-Induced Micronucleus,Micronuclei, Chromosome Defective,Micronuclei, Genotoxicant Induced,Micronucleus, Chromosome Defective,Micronucleus, Genotoxicant-Induced
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus