| abstract |
Compounds are described that bind to tubulin causing tubulin depolymerization and inhibiting tubulin polymerization. The compounds of the invention are therapeutically effective to inhibit cellular proliferation, for example, as effective anti-cancer agents. The compounds can also induce cytotoxicity in cells such as leukemia cells. The chemical structure of the compounds includes a furan, thiophene, thiazole, oxazole, or imidazole group at one end of the molecule (head) and a hydrophobic, aliphatic chain at the other end of the molecule (tail). |