What is paclitaxel + gemcitabine?
Paclitaxel and gemcitabine are both chemotherapeutic drugs that may be given together for extra effect. Both are called antimetabolites, but work in different ways. Paclitaxel is an example of a medication known as a taxane – they come from a group of trees, the yews, which have the scientific name of ‘Taxus.’ Paclitaxel comes from the Pacific yew tree. Gemcitabine is part of a group of drugs that interfere with how DNA is copied in the cell.
