Novel taxanes in development: Hopes or hypes?

Taxanes are the backbone cytotoxic agents that have been prescribed in most solid malignant treatments for decades. Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (PN) and drug resistance are inevitable. Novel taxanes include semisynthetic taxanes, taxane analogs, taxanes with a different drug-delivery method, taxanes without lipid carries, oral taxanes, taxanes with resistance to permeability glycoprotein (P-gp), and taxanes with easy penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Some taxanes have already shown promising activity in the clinic and have shown abilities to overcome the drug resistance commonly occurring with traditional taxane treatment. Predictive b for response to taxanes are being explored in order to offer precision medicine in cancer therapy. This review will focus on the history, current, and future directions of taxane development in breast cancer, especially that of novel taxanes such as oral taxanes. Clinical trials on novel taxanes, including the mature phase III trials of oral taxane and the recent setback, as well as the future direction of taxane research, will be discussed.