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Updated: Sep 9, 2025

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Recent Advances in Microtubule Targeting Agents for Cancer Therapy

Henrique C Assunção1,2, Patrícia M A Silva3,4,5, Hassan Bousbaa5

  • 1Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira, 288, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Researchers are discovering new microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) to overcome cancer resistance and toxicity. This review focuses on advancements since 2020, emphasizing structure-activity relationship studies for more effective anticancer drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) are crucial in cancer therapy by disrupting cell division.
  • Existing MTAs face limitations due to cancer resistance and significant toxicity.
  • Developing novel MTAs is essential to improve treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the discovery of new microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) since 2020.
  • To understand recent advancements in MTA development for cancer treatment.
  • To identify future directions for novel anticancer drug discovery.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications and patents since 2020.
  • Analysis of structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies for new MTAs.
  • Evaluation of cytotoxicity, selectivity, pharmacokinetics, and resistance evasion.

Main Results:

  • Identification of several novel MTA candidates with improved properties.
  • Highlighting SAR studies that guide the design of more effective agents.
  • Demonstrating progress in overcoming resistance mechanisms and reducing toxicity.

Conclusions:

  • Recent discoveries show promise for developing next-generation MTAs.
  • SAR studies are critical for designing MTAs with enhanced efficacy and safety.
  • Continued research into novel MTAs is vital for advancing cancer therapy.
Keywords:
cancermicrotubule-targeting agentsnatural productsstructure-activity relationship studies

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