Poor reproducibility of cytotoxicity tests with Vinca alkaloids has frequently been reported. A commonly presumed light sensitivity of the drugs could not be confirmed. However, we found that they are photosensitized by riboflavin (vitamin B2), an obligatory component of cell culture media. Light of wavelengths below 500 nm triggered rapid photoreactions of riboflavin with vinblastine, vincrist...

Abstract The most medically representative plant in the Apocynaceae family is Vinca minor . a perennial, herbaceous plant, commonly known as Saschiu. In present research we aimed to isolate indole compounds from L. and carry out some physico-chemical studies on these compounds: UV-VIS spectroscopy determination of polyphenols content using Folin-Ciocâlteu method. spectrophotometric study alcoho...

Microtubule inhibitors interfere with microtubule dynamics, causing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These effects are responsible for the chemotherapeutic activities of members of the taxane and Vinca alkaloid families in oncology. Unfortunately, a major side effect of the taxanes and Vinca alkaloids is the development of peripheral neuropathies. Indibulin (N-[pyridin-4-yl]-[1-(4-chlorbenzyl)-...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is represented by neuronal loss and this loss is correlated to a constant state of neuronal instability induced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In this paper data is presented regarding the possible roles of late phase cell cycle proteins in normal and affected neurons with the goal that understanding the mechanisms involved in the regulation of these proteins may r...

Class III β-tubulin (TUBB3) is emerging as a biomarker in a number of cancers. TUBB3 has been shown to be a prognostic indicator of more aggressive disease and a predictor of resistance to taxanes and vinca alkaloids. To date, there is little data on TUBB3 expression in small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). The primary objective of this study was to determine the expression of TUBB3 in SCLC. Immuno...

A daunorubicin-resistant variant of the K562 human leukemia cell line (K562-R), which demonstrates cross-resistance to other anthracycline antibiotics and Vinca alkaloids, has been developed in vitro by continuous exposure to daunorubicin. Cross-resistance to anthracyclines and Vinca alkaloids is reversed when cells are exposed to drugs in the presence of verapamil, a calcium channel blocker. T...

Advanced stage neuroblastoma has a poor clinical outcome and microtubule-destabilizing agents, such as the Vinca alkaloids, are an important component in the treatment of this childhood cancer. Vinca alkaloids bind to B-tubulin on the A/B-tubulin heterodimer and disrupt microtubule dynamics, leading to cell death. To date, studies examining the contribution of microtubules and associated protei...

Resistance to the cytotoxic effects of many natural product drugs after exposure to a single agent is a common observation. The classes of drugs included in the "classic" multiple drug resistance phenotype are Vinca alkaloids, anthracyclines, epipodophyllotoxins, and antibiotics. We re port here the characterization of a human leukemic cell line (CEM/VM1) with "atypical" multiple drug resistanc...