The shape of things to come: Structural and synthetic studies of taxol and related compounds

The history of the development of Taxol ® (paclitaxel) as an anticancer drug is reviewed, aspects of the phytochemistry of Taxus species, of the medicinal chemistry of taxol, and of the taxol–tubulin interaction are discussed, with 58 references. The history of the development of Taxol ® (paclitaxel) as an anticancer drug is reviewed, and some aspects of the phytochemistry of Taxus species and of the medicinal chemistry of taxol are discussed. The nature of the taxol–tubulin interaction is then described, with an emphasis on studies that led to the discovery and experimental proof of the T-taxol conformation as the tubulin-binding conformation of taxol. The implications of this conformation for future drug development are also briefly covered.