Tubulin-interactive natural products as anticancer agents

J Nat Prod. 2009 Mar 27;72(3):507-15. doi: 10.1021/np800568j.

Abstract

This review provides an overview of the discovery, structures, and biological activities of anticancer natural products that act by inhibiting or promoting the assembly of tubulin to microtubules. The emphasis is on providing recent information on those compounds in clinical use or in advanced clinical trials. The vinca alkaloids, the combretastatins, NPI-2358, the halichondrin B analogue eribulin, dolastatin 10, noscapine, hemiasterlin, and rhizoxin are discussed as tubulin polymerization inhibitors, while the taxanes and the epothilones are the major classes of tubulin polymerization promoters presented, with brief treatments of discodermolide, eleutherobin, and laulimalide. The challenges and future directions of tubulin-interactive natural products-based drug discovery programs are also discussed briefly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Biological Products* / chemistry
  • Biological Products* / isolation & purification
  • Biological Products* / pharmacology
  • Diketopiperazines
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Microtubules / chemistry
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • Piperazines / chemistry
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Tubulin* / chemistry
  • Tubulin* / metabolism
  • Vinca Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Vinca Alkaloids / isolation & purification
  • Vinca Alkaloids / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Diketopiperazines
  • Imidazoles
  • NPI 2358
  • Piperazines
  • Tubulin
  • Vinca Alkaloids