Antitumor activity of vinflunine: effector pathways and potential for synergies.

Vinflunine is an innovative microtubule inhibitor of the vinca alkaloid class with distinct tubulin-binding properties. Preclinical evaluation of this novel microtubule inhibitor has shown superior antitumor activity against a broad spectrum of tumor types in vitro and in vivo, in comparison with other vinca alkaloids. The antitumor effect of vinflunine is largely attributable to its modulation of microtubule dynamics, and is mediated by its ability to induce apoptosis in target cells. At non-cytotoxic concentrations, vinflunine also exerts antiangiogenic and antivascular activity. The favorable preclinical profile of vinflunine, in addition to its synergism with a variety of other therapeutic modalities, justifies further clinical development of this compound.