Docetaxel anti-cancer drug, molecular model. Docetaxel is marketed under the trade name Taxotere. It is derived from the needles of the yew tree (Taxus baccata). It disrupts the process by which microtubules form inside dividing cells, which is essential for normal cell division. As cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell division, this helps to combat the disease. Docetaxel is commonly used to treat breast, lung and prostate cancers. Atoms are colour-coded: carbon (yellow), oxygen (red), nitrogen (blue) and hydrogen (white).