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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Live Imaging to Study Microtubule Dynamic Instability in Taxane-resistant Breast Cancers
Published on: February 20, 2017
Tubulin and microtubules as targets for anticancer drugs
John A Hadfield1, Sylvie Ducki, Nicholas Hirst
1Centre for Molecular Drug Design, Department of Chemistry, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, UK.
Abstract:
Microtubules are intracellular organelles formed from the protein tubulin. These organelles have a number of essential cellular functions including chromosome segregation, the maintenance of cell shape, transport, motility, and organelle distribution. Drugs that affect the tubulin-microtubule equilibrium (taxol, vinca alkaloids) are effective anticancer drugs. This review describes the molecular target, methods used in screening, the structures of compounds known to interact with tubulin, and the clinical use of these agents. In addition the ability of these agents to destroy tumour vasculature is described. This represents an exciting new molecular target in the design of anticancer drugs.
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