Paclitaxel triggers cell death primarily via caspase-independent routes in the non-small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H460.

Abstract

Paclitaxel triggers cell death in H460 cells mainly via a currently unidentified caspase-independent mechanism in which the basic apoptotic machinery is merely coactivated. This finding is in sharp contrast with the largely caspase-dependent response elicited by DNA-damaging agents in these cells. We speculate on therapeutic implications.