Abstract
Antimitotic agents that interfere with the tubulin/microtubule system are important in the treatment of a range of cancers. Natural product tubulin-binding agents such as the Vinca alkaloids have proven highly effective in the treatment of leukemia. Improved understanding of the mechanisms of action of these and related drugs has led to the identification of distinct binding sites on tubulin that cause inhibition of spindle microtubule dynamics, mitotic arrest and cell death. Despite the efficacy of these agents, treatment failure caused by the emergence of drug resistant leukemic cells is a significant clinical problem. Alterations in the cellular target of tubulin-binding agents have been strongly implicated in resistance to these agents. This review will focus on the microtubule cytoskeleton and its role in drug resistance in leukemia. The identification of novel protein pathways involved in drug response and the development of new drugs targeted against microtubules, offers opportunities to treat resistant disease, improve outcome and potentially reduce toxicity for leukemia patients.
Keywords: Leukemia, drug resistance, vinca alkaloids, chemotherapy, microtubules, tubulin, cytoskeleton
Current Drug Targets
Title: The Cytoskeleton as a Therapeutic Target in Childhood Acute Leukemia:Obstacles and Opportunities
Volume: 8 Issue: 6
Author(s): Tracy Y. E. Liaw, Melissa H. Y. Chang and Maria Kavallaris
Affiliation:
Keywords: Leukemia, drug resistance, vinca alkaloids, chemotherapy, microtubules, tubulin, cytoskeleton
Abstract: Antimitotic agents that interfere with the tubulin/microtubule system are important in the treatment of a range of cancers. Natural product tubulin-binding agents such as the Vinca alkaloids have proven highly effective in the treatment of leukemia. Improved understanding of the mechanisms of action of these and related drugs has led to the identification of distinct binding sites on tubulin that cause inhibition of spindle microtubule dynamics, mitotic arrest and cell death. Despite the efficacy of these agents, treatment failure caused by the emergence of drug resistant leukemic cells is a significant clinical problem. Alterations in the cellular target of tubulin-binding agents have been strongly implicated in resistance to these agents. This review will focus on the microtubule cytoskeleton and its role in drug resistance in leukemia. The identification of novel protein pathways involved in drug response and the development of new drugs targeted against microtubules, offers opportunities to treat resistant disease, improve outcome and potentially reduce toxicity for leukemia patients.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
E. Liaw Y. Tracy, Y. Chang H. Melissa and Kavallaris Maria, The Cytoskeleton as a Therapeutic Target in Childhood Acute Leukemia:Obstacles and Opportunities, Current Drug Targets 2007; 8 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945007780830836
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945007780830836 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New drug therapy for eye diseases
Eyesight is one of the most critical senses, accounting for over 80% of our perceptions. Our quality of life might be significantly affected by eye disease, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, etc. Although the development of microinvasive ocular surgery reduces surgical complications and improves overall outcomes, medication therapy is ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Lecithin (Phosphatidylcholine): Healthy Dietary Supplement or Dangerous Toxin?
The Natural Products Journal The Influence of Thyroid Hormone on Ca<sup>2+</sup> Signaling Pathways During Embryonal Development
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Ambient Pollution and COPD
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Biologically Active Natural Products of the Genus Callicarpa
Current Bioactive Compounds Inhibition of RET Activated Pathways: Novel Strategies for Therapeutic Intervention in Human Cancers
Current Pharmaceutical Design Epidemiology of Major Congenital Malformations with Specific Focus on Teratogens
Current Drug Safety Hedgehog Signaling and Urological Cancers
Current Drug Targets Neuro-psychopharmacogenetics and Neurological Antecedents of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Unlocking the Mysteries of Resilience and Vulnerability
Current Neuropharmacology Nano-Chitosan Particles in Anticancer Drug Delivery: An Up-to-Date Review
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Nutlin-3, A p53-Mdm2 Antagonist for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treatment
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Neuroinflammation: A Therapeutic Target of Cotinine for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Randomized Clinical Trials in Children - Ethical and Methodological Issues
Current Pharmaceutical Design Epigenetically - Targeted Therapies for the Treatment of Hematological Malignancies
Current Medicinal Chemistry Structure-based Virtual Screening for the Identification of High-affinity Small Molecule Towards STAT3 for the Clinical Treatment of Osteosarcoma
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Patents on Glucocorticosteroids and Selected New Therapies for the Management of Asthma in Children: Update
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Appropriate Use of Antibiotics for the Management of Respiratory Tract Infections
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets The Role of Neutrophils and TH17 Cells in the Immunopathology of Severe Asthmax
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry New Strategies and Patent Therapeutics in EBV-Associated Diseases
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Purine Analogues as Kinase Inhibitors: A Review
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Circulating MicroRNAs as a New Class of Biomarkers of Physiological Reactions of the Organism to the Intake of Dietary Supplements and Drugs
MicroRNA