Combretastatin

As a class

Combretastatins are a class of natural phenols. A variety of different natural combretastatin molecules are present in the bark of Combretum caffrum, commonly known as South African Bush Willow. Despite having a similar name, combretastatins are unrelated to statins, a family of cholesterol lowering drugs.

Natural combretastatins

Molecules that fall into the combretastatin family generally share 3 common structural features: a trimethoxy "A"-ring, a "B"-ring containing substitutents often at C3' and C4', and [often] an ethene bridge between the two rings which provides necessary structural rigidity. Molecules with such an ethene bridge are also stilbenoids, molecules with a non-ethene bridge are dihydrostilbenoids.

Molecules with C3' amino and hydroxyl substituents are very active, and molecules with C4' hydroxyl or methoxy substituents are also cytotoxic. Of the natural products presently known combretastatin A-4 is the most potent in regards to both tubulin binding ability and cytotoxicity. Combretastatin A-1 is also a potent cytotoxic agent. Another molecule is combretastatin B-1.

In the plants that make it

It is thought to help protect the plant from pests and parasites.

In mammalian tumours

Members of the combretastatin family possess varying ability to cause vascular disruption in tumors. Combretastatin binds to the β-subunit of tubulin at what is called the colchicine site, referring to the previously discovered vascular disrupting agent colchicine. Inhibition of tubulin polymerization prevents cancer cells from producing microtubules. Microtubules are essential to cytoskeleton production, intercellular movement, cell movement, and formation of the mitotic spindle used in chromosome segregation and cellular division. The anti-cancer activity from this action results from a change in shape in vasculature endothelial cells. Endothelial cells treated with combretastatin rapidly balloon in shape causing a variety of effects which result in necrosis of the tumor core. The tumor edge is supported by normal vasculature and remains, for the most part, unaffected. As a result it is likely that any therapeutic use will involve a combination of drugs or treatment options.

Chemical synthesis

A variety of possible routes to the combretastatin skeleton are possible. One reasonably easy synthesis is as follows:

To directly generate the cis forms a Perkin condensation reaction can be used.

Clinical studies

Combretastatin A-4, the most potent naturally occurring combretastatin known, its phosphate prodrug (CA-4-P), and other analogs of CA-4 such as ombrabulin are currently being investigated in a number of clinical trials.