NCIt definition : A natural alkaloid isolated from the plant Vinca rosea Linn. Vinblastine binds to
tubulin and inhibits microtubule formation, resulting in disruption of mitotic spindle
assembly and arrest of tumor cells in the M phase of the cell cycle. This agent may
also interfere with amino acid, cyclic AMP, and glutathione metabolism; calmodulin-dependent
Ca -transport ATPase activity; cellular respiration; and nucleic acid and lipid
biosynthesis. (NCI04);
Alternative definition : NCI-GLOSS: The active ingredient in a drug used together with other drugs to treat
several types of cancer, including advanced Hodgkin lymphoma and advanced testicular
germinal-cell cancers. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of
cancer. Vinblastine comes from the periwinkle plant Vinca rosea Linn. It blocks cell
growth by stopping cell division and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of vinca
alkaloid and a type of antimitotic agent.;