Effectiveness of nab-paclitaxel versus traditional paclitaxels in the treatment of ovarian cancer

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of four taxane drugs, namely, paclitaxel, docetaxel, paclitaxel liposomes (Lipusu), and nab-paclitaxel (Keaili) on ovarian cancer cells both in vivo and in vitro. Methods: BALB/c-nu/nu female mice were used to develop mouse xenograft models. The mice were randomized to 5 groups (4 in each group), namely, control (PBS) group, paclitaxel group, docetaxel group, liposomal paclitaxel group and nab-paclitaxel group. The effect of four taxane drugs were determined via cell proliferation and toxicity tests. Mouse xenograft models were employed to assess the efficacy of four taxane drugs in inhibiting tumor growth. Results: Nab-paclitaxel has a significant ovarian growth-reducing effect in vitro. In vivo, no significant differences were observed in tumor volume among the four groups (p < 0.05). Nab-paclitaxel produced the lowest animal toxicity when compared with other three drugs as the mice in nab- paclitaxel treatment group showed no significant alterations in body weight (p < 0.05). Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining revealed the lowest degree of liver tissue damage in mice treated with nab-paclitaxel compared to mice administered the other three paclitaxels. Conclusion: Nab-paclitaxel is more effective in mice with ovarian cancer than traditional paclitaxels. Thus, it promises to offer a viable alternative as first- line chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer in humans, as it has low systemic toxicity and fewer hypersensitivity reactions. However, further investigations, including clinical trials in humans, are required.