Definition of "paclitaxel" [paclitaxel]

• An anticancer drug derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree and used in the treatment of ovarian and breast cancer that has not responded to prior therapy. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "She estimated harvesting paclitaxel from the soil can become profitable if the growers can generate more than 20 grams per acre."
• "But paclitaxel, which is given intravenously, is difficult to use."
• "Drugs recently in short supply include paclitaxel, which is used most notably to treat breast cancer but also is effective against ovarian, lung and gastric cancers; the anti-nausea drug prochlorperazine; electrolytes used by patients fed intravenously; and Doxil, a breast and ovarian cancer drug with such tight supplies that many patients are on waiting lists."