Paclitaxel is a medication used in the treatment of various types of cancer, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and Kaposi sarcoma. It belongs to a class of drugs called taxanes.

Paclitaxel works by interfering with the growth and spread of cancer cells. It acts by binding to microtubules, which are structures essential for cell division. By stabilizing microtubules, paclitaxel prevents cancer cells from dividing and multiplying, ultimately leading to cell death.