Chemotherapy and Toxicology · USMLE Step 1

Which chemotherapy agent class is derived from plant alkaloids and disrupts mitosis by stabilizing microtubules rather than preventing their assembly?

  1. Alkylating agents
  2. Taxanes
  3. Antimetabolites
  4. Antitumor antibiotics
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Correct answer: Taxanes

Taxanes (e.g., paclitaxel, docetaxel) are plant-derived and act by preventing microtubule disassembly, thus stabilizing microtubules and blocking mitosis at metaphase/anaphase transition.

Difficulty: Medium Question 19 of 20

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