Abstract

TAXOL AS AN ANTICANCER AGENT

Rohan Kherud*, Sakshi Sarode, Vaishnavi Vavhal, Shital Shinde, Swapnil Kadam, Dhanashri Ohol and Mayur Khemnar

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Abstract

The development of Taxol (paclitaxel) an anticancer drug is reviewed. Paclitaxel (formerly called Taxol), an important anticancer drug, inhibits cell replication by binding and stabilizing microtubule polymers. As drug-receptor interactions are governed by the threedimensional stereo chemistries of both participants. Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a chemotherapy drug widely used to treat different types of solid tumours (e.g., ovarian, breast, and pancreatic). Taxol acts by hyperstabilizing microtubules, inhibiting mitosis, and eventually causing cell apoptosis. Taxol belongs to a class of chemotherapy drugs called plant alkaloids. Plant alkaloids are made from plants. Paclitaxel has long been recognized to induce mitotic arrest, which leads to cell death in a subset of the arrested population. However, recent evidence demonstrates that intratumorally concentrations of paclitaxel are too low to cause mitotic arrest and result in multipolar divisions instead. It is hoped that this insight can be used to develop a biomarker to identify the 50% of patients who will benefit from paclitaxel therapy. This review includes common and less common side effects for individuals taking Taxol. Very rare side effects occur in less than 10% of patients. Here I discuss the history of paclitaxel and our recently evolved understanding of its mechanism of action.

Keywords: Taxol, anticancer, paclitaxel, vinca alkaloid, ovarian, breast, HPTLC, UV, TLC, colchicine, JNK pathway.