Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating cancer patients that include administering at least one or more hybrid derivatives of paclitaxel that simultaneously display improved aqueous solubility, chemical stability under physiological conditions, a decreased liability toward multi-drug resistance, and in certain instances enhanced selective toxicity toward cancer cells compared to normal cells. The derivative, paclitaxel substituted with at least one or more polar appendages at either the 7- or 10-positions as defined by a formula “7-OR-10-OR?-paclitaxel”, is either deployed alone or in combination protocols with other chemotherapeutic agents.