Recent Progress on Tubulin Inhibitors with Dual Targeting Capabilities for Cancer Therapy

J Med Chem. 2021 Jun 24;64(12):7963-7990. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00100. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

Abstract

Microtubules play a crucial role in multiple cellular functions including mitosis, cell signaling, and organelle trafficking, which makes the microtubule an important target for cancer therapy. Despite the great successes of microtubule-targeting agents in the clinic, the development of drug resistance and dose-limiting toxicity restrict their clinical efficacy. In recent years, multitarget therapy has been considered an effective strategy to achieve higher therapeutic efficacy, in particular dual-target drugs. In terms of the synergetic effect of tubulin and other antitumor agents such as receptor tyrosine kinases inhibitors, histone deacetylases inhibitors, DNA-damaging agents, and topoisomerase inhibitors in combination therapy, designing dual-target tubulin inhibitors is regarded as a promising approach to overcome these limitations and improve therapeutic efficacy. In this Perspective, we discussed rational target combinations, design strategies, structure-activity relationships, and future directions of dual-target tubulin inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemistry
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Tubulin Modulators