Eribulin and its application as anti-cancer treatment

Abstract

Eribulin (E7389) is a synthetic small molecule medication with high anti-cancer efficacy exhibited in preclinical studies. It is a structure-simplified macrocyclic ketone analog of Halichondrin B, which can inhibit the development of microtubule that is essential for the mitosis of cancer cells. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given eribulin approval as a third-line chemotherapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer (approved in 2010) or metastatic liposarcoma (approved in 2016). In a number of clinical trials, eribulin has shown outstanding efficacy and safety in the treatment of solid tumors, particularly for breast cancer and sarcoma. Current eribulin clinical trials focus on its use in the therapy of other various cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), salivary gland cancer, cervical cancer, urethral cancer, and prostate cancer, and its application in combination treatment. The present study summarizes the mechanism, development, and future directions of eribulin, with an emphasis on the results of clinical trials.