The resulting product is a mixture (CAS number 61791-12-6): the major component is the material in which the hydroxyl groups of the castor oil triglyceride have been ethoxylated with ethylene oxide to form polyethylene glycol ethers.
[1] Kolliphor EL is a synthetic, nonionic surfactant used to stabilize emulsions of nonpolar materials in water.
Therapeutically, modern drugs are rarely given in a pure chemical state, so most active ingredients are combined with excipients or additives such as Kolliphor EL.
Although many anti-allergens including corticosteroids and Benadryl may be administered before chemotherapy, they are not always sufficient to prevent the severe reaction to Kolliphor EL.
Allergic reaction should not be confused with the normal side effects of Taxol.