The Drug Taxol

 Taxol 

* = chiral centers

The drug taxol is used as a treatment for various cancers including breast, ovarian, lung, bladder, and prostate. Taxol is an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug. It's given through an injection or IV into the veins because it is not available in pill form. If the drug Taxol escapes from the veins, it can cause tissue damage and inflammation. The nurse or doctor giving the treatment must be precautions and properly trained. While undergoing treatment, the patient will be monitored carefully for the body response and side effects. A chemotherapy drug such as taxol is given in cycles according to the patients cell division. It's most effective at killing cells that are rapidly dividing. Unfortunately, this treatment doesn't distinguish between "cancerous" cells and "normal" cells. Luckily, the "normal" cells will grow back in due time. The "normal" cells that are usually affected are the cells in the mouth, stomach and bowel, and the follicles which causes the normal side effects such as low blood counts, mouth sores, nausea, diarrhea, and hair loss. 

Taxol is apart of a natural class of chemotherapy drugs called plant alkaloids. Plant alkaloids are made from the bark of the Pacific Yew Tree and they are cell-specific, meaning that they attack the cells during various phases of cell division. Taxol is a popular drug being used world wide to help stop cancerous cells in the body each and everyday. 

Stereochemistry:

Sources:

http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Taxol.aspx#.VE9EivnF-8A