The Paclitaxel (TAXUS™)-Eluting Stent

The TAXUS™/Express²™ stent contains paclitaxel 1 μg/mm². On deployment, paclitaxel is slowly released into the intimal tissue of the coronary artery to prevent cell proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia. When deployed in patients with previously untreated coronary artery lesions, the paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) effectively reduces the need for revascularization without increasing the risk of in-stent thrombosis. While long-term outcomes data and comparative efficacy and cost-benefit trials versus other drug-eluting stents are required, the PES appears to be an attractive alternative for the management of de novo coronary artery lesions.

The PES comprises a stainless steel stent coated with a non-erodible biocompatible polyolefin matrix containing paclitaxel 1 μg/mm². Paclitaxel dose dependently inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation at therapeutic concentrations as a result of binding to and stabilizing cellular microtubules. This prevents the cascade of events associated with obstructive in-stent neointimal hyperplasia.

The primary endpoints of the well designed TAXUS II and IV trials indicated superiority for the PES over the BMS. Twice as many patients receiving the BMS required target vessel revascularization at 9 months postprocedure and, 6 months following the procedure, the in-stent neointimal volume in the PES system was only one-third of that in the BMS. The incidence of cumulative major adverse cardiac events (MACE; cardiac death, myocardial infarction [MI], or target vessel revascularization [TVR]) was also significantly lower in PES than BMS recipients at 9 and 12 months postprocedure. The incidence of cardiac death and MI was low and similar between treatment groups; however, TVR was significantly reduced by the PES versus the BMS. Other secondary endpoints, such as target lesion revascularization, luminal diameter stenosis, minimal luminal diameter, and serial intravascular ultrasound measurements from one or both trials supported these results.

Preliminary analysis of the subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus in the TAXUS IV trial suggested that the PES was also effective in diabetic patients who receive oral medications. The group receiving insulin was too small to draw meaningful conclusions.

Because of the small paclitaxel dosages and the mainly local uptake, systemic adverse events associated with the PES are considered unlikely. The incidences of cardiac death and MI were very low and similar in both groups.

Local events such as in-stent aneurysms, incomplete stent apposition, or in-stent thrombosis occurred at a similar rate in PES and BMS recipients. There has been no evidence of late thrombosis in PES recipients followed for 2 years. The rate of late luminal loss in the 5mm of vessel proximal and distal to the stent edges was significantly lower in PES than BMS systems.

Initial deployment costs associated with the PES are likely to be offset by savings in repeat procedures, according to a cost-effectiveness analysis in the UK.