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Microtubule-targeting agentsUsed in a few countriesDerivative of an earlier drugNeeds review

Vindesine

Also known as deacetylvinblastine amide, VDS

A semisynthetic vinca alkaloid made from vinblastine. Reviews from 1983 and 1995 describe activity in leukaemia, lung cancer and other tumours; a 2013 review lists vincristine, vinblastine and vinorelbine, but not vindesine, as US-approved.

From discovery to approval

  1. 1976 · Earliest report found

    Vindesine (deacetylvinblastine amide) is named in a 1976 toxicology study in mice, rats and dogs, the earliest paper found. A 1978 paper reports preparing it from vinblastine, or from deacetylvinblastine, by hydrazinolysis of an ester in the vindoline part followed by hydrogenolysis; neither paper dates the preparation.[2][3][4][5]

  2. No approval is recorded on this site.

How it works

No paper specific to vindesine's mechanism was read. A 2013 review says vinca alkaloids as a group bind tubulin and disrupt microtubule function, mainly in the mitotic spindle, which causes metaphase arrest.[1]

Where it came from and why

The authors were exploring how minor structural differences change the antitumour activity and toxicity of dimeric Catharanthus alkaloids. In rodent tumour systems vindesine resembled vincristine rather than vinblastine, and its neurotoxic potential appeared lower than that of vincristine.

Cancers

  • Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

    A 1995 review says vindesine has an important role in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, particularly in children.[6]

  • Non-small cell lung cancer

    The 1995 review says vindesine has been widely used with cisplatin as first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, with an average single-agent response rate it puts at 18%.[6]

  • Other tumours studied

    A 1983 review lists clinical activity against acute leukaemia, lung cancer, breast carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus and of the head and neck, Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.[4]

Family and partners

Derived from: Vinblastine

Worth knowing

  • A 1983 review says vindesine is derived from vinblastine but its antineoplastic spectrum more closely resembles that of vincristine.[4]
  • The 1978 report says the clinical investigation of vindesine was in progress, and that a radioimmunoassay developed for vinblastine, vincristine and vindesine had been used to study its pharmacokinetics in people.[3]
  • A 2005 review of the discovery and development of chemotherapy at Eli Lilly names vindesine, with vincristine and vinblastine, among the vinca alkaloids it covers.[5]
  • A 1997 review says that despite a lack of cross-resistance with vincristine, vindesine had not yet achieved its expected potential in acute leukaemias.[7]

References

  1. Moudi M, Go R, Yien CY, Nazre M. Vinca alkaloids. Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(11):1231-5. PubMed
  2. Todd GC, Gibson WR, Morton DM. Toxicology of vindesine (desacetyl vinblastine amide) in mice, rats, and dogs. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1976;1(5):843-50. PubMedDOI
  3. Barnett CJ, Cullinan GJ, Gerzon K, Hoying RC, Jones WE, Newlon WM, et al. Structure-activity relationships of dimeric Catharanthus alkaloids. 1. Deacetylvinblastine amide (vindesine) sulfate. J Med Chem. 1978;21(1):88-96. PubMedDOI
  4. Cersosimo RJ, Bromer R, Licciardello JT, Hong WK. Pharmacology, clinical efficacy and adverse effects of vindesine sulfate, a new vinca alkaloid. Pharmacotherapy. 1983;3(5):259-74. PubMedDOI
  5. Pearce HL, Alice Miller M. The evolution of cancer research and drug discovery at Lilly Research Laboratories. Adv Enzyme Regul. 2005;45:229-55. PubMedDOI
  6. Dancey J, Steward WP. The role of vindesine in oncology--recommendations after 10 years' experience. Anticancer Drugs. 1995;6(5):625-36. PubMedDOI
  7. Gökbuget N, Hoelzer D. Vindesine in the treatment of leukaemia. Leuk Lymphoma. 1997;26(5-6):497-506. PubMedDOI