Читать книгу The Cancer Directory - Dr. Daniel Rosy - Страница 121

The majority of anti-cancer drugs were discovered by accident. Initially, a few were designed specifically to inhibit tumour cell growth, but this is now changing.

Many successful cancer drugs come from natural sources – adriamycin comes from a fungus found on buildings on the Adriatic coast; vincristine originated from the pretty blue Vinca (periwinkle) plant, often seen in English gardens; taxol and taxotere, collectively called taxanes, were derived from the Pacific yew tree – and were also found by accident. There are now several other derivatives synthesized in the laboratory.