What is the main function of taxanes in cancer treatment?

Taxanes are a class of chemotherapeutic agents that primarily function by preventing the depolymerization of microtubules, which are essential components of the cell's cytoskeleton. By stabilizing microtubules, taxanes effectively interfere with the mitotic spindle's ability to function correctly during cell division. This stabilization makes it impossible for cancer cells to complete mitosis, leading to cell cycle arrest and ultimately triggering apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This mechanism is particularly effective against rapidly dividing cancer cells, making taxanes a valuable tool in the treatment of various cancers, including breast and ovarian cancers.

The other functions listed do not accurately describe the action of taxanes. Inhibiting DNA synthesis, causing cross-linking of DNA, and blocking nucleotide synthesis are mechanisms associated with different classes of chemotherapeutic agents rather than taxanes specifically.