In 1989, NCI-supported researchers at The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center reported that tumors shrank or disappeared in 30 percent of patients who received paclitaxel for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Paclitaxel was later approved as initial treatment for ovarian cancer in combination with cisplatin . Paclitaxel is also used for other cancers, including AIDS related Kaposi s sarcoma and lung cancer. Like most cancer drugs, paclitaxel has side effects that can be serious. It is important for patients to talk with their doctor about possible side effects.
Patients often receive medication to prevent hypersensitivity reactions before they take paclitaxel.
Paclitaxel can also cause temporary damage to the bone marrow . The bone marrow is the soft, sponge-like tissue in the center of large bones that produces blood cells, which fight infection, carry oxygen, and help prevent bleeding by causing blood clots to form. Nevertheless, for many patients with cancer, the benefits outweigh the risks associated with this drug. Early research using paclitaxel was limited due to difficulties in obtaining the drug. The amount of paclitaxel in yew bark is small, and extracting it is a complicated and expensive process.