Development of Taxol® as an anticancer drug

The anticancer drug Taxol® (paclitaxel, 1) and its semisynthetic analogs docetaxel (2) and cabazitaxel (3) are some of the most effective weapons in the arsenal of drugs for the treatment of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and various other cancers. The story of how the chemical compound taxol, discovered by Monroe Wall and Mansukh Wani as the major active component of the bark of the Western Yew, Taxus brevifolia, became the major drug Taxol® is a fascinating one. It includes the discovery by Richard Powell and colleagues of the closely related compound cephalomannine (4), the discovery by Susan Horwitz of its unique mechanism of action, and a summary of the long and tortuous route to clinical approval. Some chemical and biological studies of paclitaxel from the author's laboratory will also be included.