Machine learning tools can now help with improving Taxol production in plant cell cultures

Abstract

Chemotherapeutic intervention for cancer care is an important step. One of the most effective chemotherapy agents in use today is Paclitaxel (PTX), sold under the common name Taxol and Oxanol. Due to its ability to inhibit microtubule formation in cells, PTX is effective at all stages of the cancer and is FDA approved for treatment of many types of cancer (ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, cervical cancer, and pancreatic cancer). PTX is a plant alkaloid in the taxane family of compounds obtained from bark of the Pacific Yew tree (Taxus brevifolia) [1]. Adequate market supply of PTX has remained a challenge, as paclitaxel represents only a minor proportion of the total taxoid content of the Taxus species. Over the years, research into finding an alternate to cutting down Yew trees for PTX harvesting has been on the forefront. It is estimated that up to 60 trees may need to be harvested for the treatment of one patient.