Paclitaxel suppresses the growth of primary prostate tumours (RM-1) and metastases in the lung in C57BL/6 mice

Paclitaxel has potent anti-cancer effects through its ability to block metaphase/anaphase transition during cell mitosis. This study shows that paclitaxel can significantly suppress both primary orthotopic murine (RM-1) prostate tumour growth (up to 60%) and the formation of pseudometastatic tumour colony formation in the lungs (by up to 46%) in C57BL/6 mice in vivo. Tumour growth suppression was associated with increased RM-1 cell apoptosis in the primary prostate tumours. In vitro studies found that the duration of exposure time to Paclitaxel was correlated with its ability to suppress cell proliferation and induce G2/M arrest.