Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
O
HO
O
OH
O
O
OH
O
NH
O
C
HO
O
OH
O
O
O
O
H
O
O
OH
O
OH
O
O
Paclitaxel
10-DAB
FIGURE 10.14
The structure of paclitaxel from
Taxus brevifolia
and the precursor DAB
from
Taxus baccata.
(Photograph courtesy of Steven Foster.)
Paclitaxel is a mitotic inhibitor used in cancer chemotherapy. It was approved
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of drug-resistant
ovarian and breast cancers and also is used in the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma and
lung cancer. Subsequently, it has become a major research tool of study in cancer
therapy. Paclitaxel works by stabilizing microtubules, which play important roles in
cell division. This stabilization of microtubules inhibits mitosis: the cells are unable
to multiply and thus tumors are unable to grow.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search