Antitubulin agents can initiate different apoptotic pathways

The effect of antitubulin agents (Taxol, Vincristine, and Nocodazole) on MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells was studied. The purpose of the study was to determine the type of death of these cells and the role of p53 protein in this process. The data obtained show that the antitubulin agents can activate not only both subtypes of the mitotic catastrophe (death during mitosis and postmitotic death of polyploid cells) but also death of mononuclear cells. It is assumed that disturbance of the organization of the microtubule system activates the G1 checkpoint in the cell cycle. Apoptosis is activated in a p53-independent manner in K-mitotic cells and after complete microtubule disassembly in interphase cells.