LC-MS/MS methods for the determinatıon of paclitaxel in biological fluıds: A review

Oncology stands out as a dynamic field of science, driven by contin uous development and innovative research leading to advances in treat ment methods. In this context, paclitaxel is a chemotherapy drug that is effectively used in the treatment of a wide variety of cancer types. The drug’s areas of application include breast, ovarian, bladder, lung, prostate, melanoma, oesophageal cancers, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and various other solid tumours. This review details paclitaxel’s therapeutic indications, its mechanism of action at the cellular level, its role in suppressing tumour cell proliferation, as well as dosage adjustments, infusion protocols, routes of administration, and possible contraindications; it also emphasises the clinical importance of monitoring patients undergoing treatment. Pacli taxel, initially known as “taxol” when it was first discovered, is a natural diterpenoid compound derived from the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifo lia). The drug’s discovery was the result of natural product screening pro grammes conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this process, research ers examined various plant extracts in an effort to identify compounds with anticancer potential, and paclitaxel’s pronounced cytotoxic effects attracted attention. In particular, its capacity to halt the cell cycle and induce apoptosis by inhibiting microtubule depolymerisation has made paclitaxel a priority agent in anticancer research (1).