Description
Baccatin III is a diterpene found in Taxus and various fungal organisms that exhibits immunomodulatory and anticancer chemotherapeutic activities. Unlike most taxanes, baccatin III does not bind tubulin; it is primarily used in the synthesis of taxol. In animal models of breast cancer and colon cancer, baccatin III decreases tumor growth by suppressing accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. In other various cancer cell lines, this compound induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation in a caspase 10-dependent manner. In bone marrow dendritic cells, baccatin III increases MHC class I and II antigen presentation; similarly, it increases cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in vivo.
