Problem
A 60-year-old woman presents to her oncologist for follow-up of her metastatic ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed approximately a year ago. Initial treatment included surgery and a cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimen. Unfortunately, she was recently diagnosed with recurrent disease. She currently takes only promethazine as needed for nausea and a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen as needed for pain. On examination she appears comfortable. She has a thin growth of hair on her scalp. Her abdomen has a well-healed surgical scar but is otherwise unremarkable. The remainder of her examination is normal. She is diagnosed with recurrent metastatic ovarian cancer and placed on a chemotherapeutic regimen that includes paclitaxel.
a) What is the development history of paclitaxel?
b) What is the mechanism of action of paclitaxel?