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Review
. 2014 Aug 12;111(4):646-50.
doi: 10.1038/bjc.2014.149. Epub 2014 Apr 22.

Trabectedin, a drug acting on both cancer cells and the tumour microenvironment

M D'Incalci  1 , N Badri  2 , C M Galmarini  2 , P Allavena  3
Affiliations
Review

Trabectedin, a drug acting on both cancer cells and the tumour microenvironment

M D'Incalci et al. Br J Cancer. .

Abstract

Trabectedin is the first marine-derived anti-neoplastic drug approved for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma and, in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, for the treatment of patients with relapsed platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. From the beginning of its development, trabectedin showed some peculiar properties that clearly distinguished it from other anti-cancer drugs. In this mini-review, we will outline the current state of knowledge regarding the mode of action of trabectedin, which appears to represent a new class of anti-neoplastic drugs acting both on cancer cells and on the tumour microenvironment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Chemical structure of trabectedin; (B) trabectedin binding to the DNA minor groove. The figure illustrates that a part of the molecule binds to DNA whereas another part protrudes out of DNA.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic summary of the different mechanisms of action and biological effects on cancer cells and tumour microenvironment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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