title: Tubulin interacting agents: novel taxanes and epothilones.
abstract: The microtubule cytoskeleton plays an important part in cell mitosis, which relies on polymerization and depolymerization of the protein tubulin. Such established drugs as the vinca alkaloids and colchacine work by inhibiting microtubule assembly, as does paclitaxel. This article describes a variety of promising novel taxanes and epothilones with similar mechanisms of action that are in various states of preclinical and clinical development.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Therapeutics, Taussig Cancer Center, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, R35, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. Mekhait@ccf.org
authors.forename: Neeraj R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ganapathi
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mekhail
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology; D034261:Epothilones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D034261:Epothilones; D043823:Taxoids; D014404:Tubulin; C080625:taxane; D017239:Paclitaxel