Combretastatin a-1

A stilbenoid originally isolated from the plant Combretum caffrum, with vascular-disrupting and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, combretastatin A1 (CA1) promotes rapid microtubule depolymerization; endothelial cell mitotic arrest and apoptosis; destruction of the tumor vasculature; disruption of tumor blood flow; and tumor cell necrosis. In addition, orthoquinone intermediates, metabolized from combretastatin A1 by oxidative enzymes found to be elevated in some tumor types, may bind to tumor cell thiol-specific antioxidant proteins and DNA, and stimulate oxidative stress by enhancing superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production.