The microtubule cytoskeleton plays an important part in cell mitosis, which relies on polymerization and depolymerization of the protein tubulin. Such established drugs as the vinca alkaloids and colchacine work by inhibiting microtubule assembly, as does paclitaxel. This article describes a variety of promising novel taxanes and epothilones with similar mechanisms of action that are in various states of preclinical and clinical development.
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