New Anticancer Vinca Alkaloids in the Last Decade - A Mini-Review

Abstract

The chemistry and pharmacology of the important Vinca alkaloids such as vinblastine and vincristine used in anticancer therapy are still investigated widely. Several new derivatives, e.g., vinflunine, vinorelbine, and vindesine, have been synthesized and become successful medicines in anti-cancer therapy. In 2012, we published a paper that reviewed the Vinca derivatives. Nevertheless, the interest in the preparation of new modified structures is not decreasing either in recent years. In this review, the vinblastine-type molecules with several substituents, e.g., amide, nitrile, hydrazide, substituted side chains, etc. in different positions of catharanthine and/or vindoline cores are presented. An important part of the review is the derivatization of the monomer alkaloid vindoline, which possesses no antitumor effect. Additionally, new hybrid molecules of these alkaloids are also discussed in this mini-review.