Final answer:
Chemotherapy drugs like vincristine and colchicine disrupt the cell division process by inhibiting microtubule assembly, leading to cell death. Their adverse effects can be severe, including bone marrow suppression and peripheral neuropathy. They are utilized mainly in cancer treatment to limit cancer cell proliferation.
Step-by-step explanation:
M-phase Inhibitors: Mechanism of Action, Adverse Effects, and Use
Chemotherapy drugs such as vincristine and colchicine are classified as M-phase inhibitors due to their effect on cell division. These drugs target microtubules during mitosis, specifically during the metaphase when spindles are formed to ensure equal distribution of chromosomes to the daughter cells. Vincristine and colchicine bind to tubulin, inhibiting the assembly and disassembly of microtubules. This prevents the formation of the mitotic spindle, leading to arrested cell division and subsequent cell death.
The main adverse effects of these M-phase inhibitors include bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal issues, and peripheral neuropathy. It's important to monitor patients closely due to the potential severity of these side effects.
Such M-phase inhibitors are used primarily in the treatment of various forms of cancer. By restricting cell division, they are able to limit the proliferation of cancer cells.
Other M-phase inhibitors include Vinblastine (Velban®), Vincristine (Oncovin®), and Pacitaxel (Taxol®), each with a similar mechanism of targeting tubulin but may differ in terms of efficacy, toxicity, and spectrum of cancers they are used against.