Induction of apoptosis by paclitaxel in human oral carcinoma cells

The present study investigated induction of apoptosis in NB-1 oral carcinoma cells by paclitaxel and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in relation to this apoptotic cell death. Paclitaxel induced apoptotic cell death in NB-1 cells in a dose- and a time-dependent manner. The present results suggest that paclitaxel can induce apoptosis of NB-1 cells, which may be mediated by down-regulation of Bcl-2 together with up-regulation of Bax.