Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics
06:00

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics

Published on: May 14, 2016

Mitosis-targeting natural products for cancer prevention and therapy

Chinthalapally V Rao1, Carla D Kurkjian, Hiroshi Y Yamada

  • 1Center for Cancer Prevention and Drug Development, Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Oklahoma City, 73104, USA. cv-rao@ouhsc.edu

Current Drug Targets
|November 13, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Natural products targeting mitosis show promise for cancer treatment. These compounds, including taxanes and vinca alkaloids, disrupt cell division, offering new therapeutic avenues for cancer prevention and therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Mitosis is crucial for cell division; its disruption leads to cell death.
  • Anti-mitotic drugs, particularly plant-derived natural products like taxanes and vinca alkaloids, are effective cancer treatments by targeting spindle microtubules.
  • Research is expanding to include non-microtubule targets and novel natural products for cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review natural products that target the mitotic process for cancer treatment.
  • To highlight advances in understanding mitotic mechanisms in tumor and normal cells.
  • To identify potential natural agents for cancer prevention and therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of natural products affecting mitosis.
  • Analysis of existing and novel anti-mitotic agents.
  • Focus on both microtubule and non-microtubule mitotic targets.

Main Results:

  • Plant-derived natural products like taxanes and vinca alkaloids are established anti-mitotic drugs.
  • Development of new spindle poisons and exploration of non-microtubule targets are ongoing.
  • Advances in understanding mitosis aid in identifying new natural product-based cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Natural products targeting mitosis offer significant potential for cancer treatment.
  • Targeting mitotic mechanisms, including non-microtubule pathways, expands therapeutic options.
  • Continued research into natural agents can lead to novel strategies for cancer prevention and therapy.

More Related Videos

Generation of Prostate Cancer Cell Models of Resistance to the Anti-mitotic Agent Docetaxel06:44

Generation of Prostate Cancer Cell Models of Resistance to the Anti-mitotic Agent Docetaxel

Published on: September 8, 2017

A Fluorescence-based Protocol for Preliminary Screening of Protein Synthesis Inhibitors from Natural Sources10:24

A Fluorescence-based Protocol for Preliminary Screening of Protein Synthesis Inhibitors from Natural Sources

Published on: January 27, 2026

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.