Vinflunine: a novel antitubulin agent in solid malignancies.

Vinflunine is the first bi-fluorinated, tubulin-targeted agent that was obtained by semisynthesis using super-acidic chemistry, which allowed the selective introduction of two fluorine atoms at the C20' position of vinorelbine. This compound has been selected for clinical development on the basis of promising preclinical activity that warranted a study in patients with a wide spectrum of solid tumours. Clinically significant activity was seen in the Phase II studies for the treatment of bladder, non-small cell lung and breast cancers, thus prompting the initiation of the Phase III trials that are currently ongoing.