Systemic: Paclitaxel belongs to the class of medications known as antimicrotubule agents [15][16]. It promotes the assembly of microtubules from tubulin dimers and stabilizes microtubules by preventing depolymerization. This stability results in the inhibition of the normal dynamic reorganization of the microtubule network that is essential for vital interphase and mitotic cellular functions. In addition, paclitaxel induces abnormal arrays or 'bundles' of microtubules throughout the cell cycle and multiple asters of microtubules during mitosis. [15][17][18][19][16][20]
Paclitaxel enhances the cytotoxic effects of ionizing radiation in vitro. [17]