Paclitaxel　is　a　well-known　anticancer　agent　with　a　unique　mechanism　of　action.　It　is　considered　to　be　one　of　the　most　successful　natural　anticancer　drugs　available.　This　study　summarizes　the　recent　advances　in　our　understanding　of　the　sources,　the　anticancer　mechanism,　and　the　biosynthetic　pathway　of　paclitaxel.　With　the　advancement　of　biotechnology,　improvements　in　endophytic　fungal　strains,　and　the　use　of　recombination　techniques　and　microbial　fermentation　engineering,　the　yield　of　extracted　paclitaxel　has　increased　significantly.　Recently,　paclitaxel　has　been　found　to　play　a　large　role　in　tumor　immunity,　and　it　has　a　great　potential　for　use　in　many　cancer　treatments.　©　2019,　The　Author(s).