Function and Usage: Paclitaxel is a mitotic inhibitor drup used in the treatment of cancer. It was discovered at Research Triangle Institute (RTI) in 1967 when Monroe E. Wall and Mansukh C. Wani isolated the compound from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia, and noted its antitumor activity in a broad range of rodent tumors. By 1970, the two scientists had determined the structure of paclitaxel. Paclitaxel has since become an effective tool of doctors who treat patients with lung, ovarian, breast cancer, and advanced forms of Kaposi's sarcoma. It is sold under the tradename Taxol. Together with docetaxel, it forms the drug category of the taxanes.

Paclitaxel is also used for the prevention of restenosis (recurrent narrowing) of coronary stents; locally delivered to the wall of the coronary artery, a paclitaxel coating limits the growth of neointima (scar tissue) within stents. Paclitaxel drug eluting coated stents are sold under the trade name Taxus by Boston Scientific in the United States.