Mitotic inhibitors are drugs derived from natural plant sources. They inhibit cell division or mitosis, where a single cell divides into two genetically identical daughter cells. Mitotic inhibitors bind to tubulin and inhibit its polymerization into microtubules. Microtubules are structures responsible for pulling the cell apart when it divides. Mitotic inhibitors affect cancer cells more than normal cells because cancer cells divide (mitotic cell division) more rapidly therefore are more susceptible to mitotic inhibition.
Different mitotic inhibitors are used to treat particular types of cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer and other types of cancers.