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Anti-mitotic agents: Are they emerging molecules for cancer treatment?

Larissa Siqueira Penna1, João Antonio Pêgas Henriques1, Diego Bonatto1

  • 1Biotechnology Center of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|February 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Targeting the mitotic phase disrupts cancer cell growth. New anti-mitotic drugs focus on proteins beyond tubulin, aiming for safer and more effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cancer cell mutations often lead to uncontrolled growth by altering the cell cycle.
  • Targeting the mitotic phase (mitosis) of the cell cycle is a key strategy in cancer therapy.
  • Early anti-mitotic drugs targeting tubulin showed efficacy but caused severe side effects like neuropathy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review major proteins involved in mitosis that are viable targets for cancer treatment.
  • To summarize recent advancements in anti-mitotic drug development beyond tubulin.
  • To discuss the clinical trial activity of novel anti-mitotic agents.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications and clinical trial data.
  • Analysis of proteins critical to mitotic progression and their therapeutic potential.
  • Evaluation of the efficacy and safety profiles of anti-mitotic drugs in clinical trials.

Main Results:

  • Mitotic phase targeting can induce cell death in tumor cells.
  • Development has shifted towards targeting kinases, motor proteins, and multi-protein complexes in mitosis.
  • Various novel anti-mitotic drugs targeting different mitotic pathways are under clinical investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting mitotic proteins offers a promising avenue for cancer therapy.
  • Newer anti-mitotic agents aim to improve efficacy and reduce the adverse events associated with older drugs.
  • Ongoing clinical trials will determine the future role of these novel agents in cancer treatment.
Keywords:
CancerCancer treatmentClinical trialsMitosisMitotic inhibitors

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