Medical How Does Taxol Specifically Target Cancer Cells?

  • Thread starter Thread starter grewas8
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Cancer
AI Thread Summary
Taxol targets cancerous cells primarily due to their rapid division, which requires more microtubules for cell structure and function. While Taxol binds to microtubules, disrupting their normal function, it does not specifically distinguish between cancerous and healthy cells. Consequently, it can affect other rapidly dividing cells, including some skin cells, leading to side effects typical of chemotherapy. The immune system may not effectively identify and eliminate these affected cells, as the drug's action is not selective and can impact both healthy and cancerous tissues.
grewas8
Messages
16
Reaction score
0
i was wondering how is taxol targeting specifically at cancerous cells? I mean to say how does it know that a cell is cancerous? Why doesn't it effect skin cells which also have rapid division and stabilizing microtubules in other cells than cancerous would be drastic, wouldn't the immune system pick up on this?

Thanks
 
Biology news on Phys.org
short answer, cancer divides fastest, need more microtubule, break down, built up. taxol bind to them first. Long answer, I am sure it goes after everything else and screw up the body like any other chemo.
 

Thread 'Flesh-eating New World Screwworm re-occurrence in US'

Deadly cattle screwworm parasite found in US patient. What to know. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/08/25/new-world-screwworm-human-case/85813010007/ Exclusive: U.S. confirms nation's first travel-associated human screwworm case connected to Central American outbreak https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-confirms-nations-first-travel-associated-human-screwworm-case-connected-2025-08-25/...
View full post »

Thread 'Chagas disease now established in US'

Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S. According to articles in the Los Angeles Times, "Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S.", and "Kissing bugs bring deadly disease to California". LA Times requires a subscription. Related article -...
View full post »

Thread 'I need help understanding this quote about recent Natural Selection'

I am reading Nicholas Wade's book A Troublesome Inheritance. Please let's not make this thread a critique about the merits or demerits of the book. This thread is my attempt to understanding the evidence that Natural Selection in the human genome was recent and regional. On Page 103 of A Troublesome Inheritance, Wade writes the following: "The regional nature of selection was first made evident in a genomewide scan undertaken by Jonathan Pritchard, a population geneticist at the...
View full post »

Similar threads

Engineered white blood cells may eliminate cancer?
Replies
1
Views
3K
Energizing the immune system to engulf cancer
Replies
1
Views
2K
"Spontaneous" cancer development
Replies
21
Views
4K
Medical New target for treating pancreatic cancer identified
Replies
10
Views
3K
Medical The role of bacteria in cancer development
Replies
7
Views
3K
PFAS and Power Lines Cause Cancer?
Replies
36
Views
7K
Medical Scientists identify major safety issue with CRISPR
Replies
11
Views
5K
Medical An Odd Description of Skin Cancer Cause from UV Radiation
Replies
4
Views
3K
Medical Cure for cancer lies in biotechnology and manipulating Virus’s?
Replies
3
Views
4K
Cancer from a evolutionary perspective.
Replies
13
Views
5K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top