ATC Group: L01CA Vinca alkaloids and analogues

Vinblastine appears to bind to or crystallise critical microtubular proteins of the mitotic spindle, thus preventing their proper polymerisation and causing metaphase arrest. In high concentrations, vinblastine also exerts complex effects on nucleic acid and protein synthesis.

Vincristine is an antineoplastic drug with broad-spectrum anti-tumor activity in man. The drug may act by mitotic inhibition, causing an arrest of cell division in metaphase.

Vindesine is an antineoplastic agent derived from vinblastine, like the other vinca alkaloids it causes mitotic arrest in metaphase by binding to microtubular protein.

Vinflunine binds to tubulin at or near to the vinca binding sites inhibiting its polymerisation into microtubules, which results in treadmilling suppression, disruption of microtubule dynamic, mitotic arrest and apoptosis.

Vinorelbine is an antineoplastic drug of the vinca alkaloid family but unlike all the other vinca alkaloids. Vinorelbine inhibits tubulin polymerization and blocks mitosis at G₂-M, causing cell death in interphase or at the following mitosis.