Paclitaxel
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What is Paclitaxel?
Paclitaxel is a natural compound originally isolated from the bark of the Pacific Yew Tree (Taxus brevifolia). It is the active component in one of the most effective and widely-used drugs, which was originally developed to treat advanced forms of ovarian cancer. Importantly, Angiotech's formulation of paclitaxel (PAXCEED™) does not contain Cremophor®, an agent associated with serious hypersensitivity reactions. The intravenous dose used in rheumatoid arthritis and severe psoriasis is significantly lower than chemotherapeutic doses. In the case of coronary stents, the dose is less than 1/3000 of the chemotherapeutic dose.
How does Paclitaxel work?
Paclitaxel has unique ways of preventing the division of affected cells through cell signaling inhibition and by binding to the cell's skeleton, or microtubules, that play an important role in cell function. Microtubules are organized when a cell starts dividing. The drug inhibits the division of cells by stabilizing microtubule function. It also prevents cell migration, discouraging cells with destructive potential from migrating and accumulating at the injured site. Finally, the drug prevents specific digestive enzymes from forming through a complex cell-signaling pathway.
Learn more about paclitaxel drug-eluting stents.