How is the Spindle Apparatus Targeted in Cancer Therapy?
Many anticancer drugs target the spindle apparatus to inhibit cell division, thereby preventing cancer cell proliferation. Common spindle-targeting drugs include taxanes and vinca alkaloids. Taxanes, such as paclitaxel, stabilize microtubules and prevent their depolymerization, while vinca alkaloids, like vincristine, inhibit microtubule polymerization. Both mechanisms disrupt the spindle apparatus, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells.
