Paclitaxel is an effective antiproliferative agent on the human NCI-H295 adrenocortical carcinoma cell line.

In view of a potential clinical use, we assessed the antiproliferative effect of paclitaxel on the human steroid-secreting NCI-H295 adrenocarcinoma cell line. By MTT, paclitaxel induced a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation, with IC50 lower than blood levels of the drug achieved in patients treated for other malignancies. Cell exposure to paclitaxel for 24 h at the different IC50S produced a dose-responsive increase in DNA fragmentation, morphologically confirmed by electron microscopy. A time-dependent decrease in aldosterone, cortisol and testosterone was observed. Paclitaxel is an effective antiproliferative agent in this human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line. Apoptosis induced by the drug in involved in neoplastic cell death. A potential role of the drug in the treatment of patients with adrenocortical cancer could be considered.