How Do Antimicrotubular Antineoplastics Work?

Antimicrotubular antineoplastics are a class of drugs used to treat various cancers including breast, lung, stomach, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers. They are also used in the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes), systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma), peripheral T-cell lymphoma (a diverse group of aggressive lymphomas that develop from mature-stage white blood cells called T cells and natural killer cells), primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (a subtype of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma), and CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides (a rare form of T-cell lymphoma of the skin).

Antimicrotubular antineoplastics work in the following ways:

• They belong to a class called "chemotherapy drugs" that work by slowing down or stopping the growth of cancer cells.
• They are also called as"“microtubule dynamics inhibitors," categorized as anticancer medications that work by killing the cancer cells.
• They block cell growth by stopping a natural process called mitosis (cell division).
• In addition, they interfere with the microtubules (cellular structures that help move chromosomes during mitosis).

Antimicrotubular antineoplastics are used to treat conditions such as:

• Pancreatic cancer 
• Breast cancer
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Melanoma (a most serious type of skin cancer)
• Classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes)
• Systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma)
• Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (a subtype of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma)
• CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas (uncommon types of lymphoma that develop from more mature forms of T cells)
• Liposarcoma (a rare type of cancer that begins in the fat cells)

Some of the common side effects include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Muscle/joint pain
• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• Tiredness/weakness
• Mouth sores
• Loss of appetite
• Heartburn
• Taste changes
• Constipation
• Pain, redness, swelling, hardness, or itching at the injection site

Other rare side effects include:

• Dizziness 
• Fatigue 
• Weight loss
• Hair loss
• Rash
• Shortness of breath
• Tachycardia (fast heartbeat)
• Chills, sore throat, fever, or cough
• Decreased or painful urination
• Chest pain/tightness
• Numbness/tingling/burning of the hands/feet
• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
• Swelling of the face, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Insomnia (trouble falling and/or staying asleep)
• Anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count)
• Peripheral neuropathy (a result of damage to the nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord [peripheral nerves])

Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of antimicrotubular antineoplastics include:

• Abraxane
• Adcetris
• Brentuximab vedotin
• Cabazitaxel
• Enfortumab vedotin
• Enfortumab vedotin-ejfv
• Eribulin
• Halaven
• Ixabepilone
• Ixempra
• Jevtana
• Paclitaxel protein bound
• Padcev