Taksany jako leki antynowotworowe – przeszłość, teraźniejszość i perspektywy

The aim of this paper was to analyze the available knowledge about taxanes in the literature– a group of organic compounds used as antineoplastic drugs. Due to the enormous progressmade in elucidating mechanisms of action and developing methods of synthesis of this groupof drugs, it was decided to systematize the current state of knowledge in this literature review.The analysis focused on the impact of the discovery of paclitaxel on natural populations of theprimary source of this substance, i.e. Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.), the evolution of thepotential for taxanes synthesis, and the latest research and current importance of these com-pounds in the treatment of cancer. Based on the analysis of the literature, taxanes such as naturalpaclitaxel and synthetic docetaxel and cabazitaxel currently play an important role in oncology.The positive results of the use of these three compounds gave impulse to the development offurther taxanes. Some of them are currently in different phases of clinical trials, which meansthat more substances from this group may soon appear on the market, perhaps even more effec-tive in killing cancer cells.