RECENT PROGRESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUBULIN INHIBITORS AS ANTIMITOTIC ANTITUMOR AGENTS

Tubulin protein is a major target of' drug molecules, and consequently , tubulin a inhibitors have attracted great attention as antimitotic a ntitumor agents for chemotherapeutic use. Hundreds of synthetic or sem isynthetic tubulin inhibitors have been discovered and developed recen tly that are related to the natural products colchicine, vinblastine, and taxol. Representatives include allothiocolchicinoids, vinorelbine, and taxotere. This review will describe the recent progress being mad e in the development of novel antimitotic antirumor tubulin inhibitors , The emphasis has been placed on related research in the author's lab oratory, including development of colchicine derivatives and other col chicine binding site drugs, such as flavonoids and quinolone derivativ es. Syntheses and modifications of novel compounds, biological activit y evaluation, and structural activity relationships will be discussed as well. Further research will undoubtedly lead to the discovery of ad ditional tubulin inhibitors that have potential for use as anticancer drugs.