Alvocidib (flavopiridol) Vorinostat (Zolinza)

Cell Cycle Inhibitors

Drugs of this type interfere with the cell division process (the cell cycle) that enables tumors to grow. Cell cycle arrest would be expected to result in stability (not tumor shrinkage), but these drugs may be combined with more cytotoxic drugs to kill tumor cells.  To learn more about the cell cycle, link to a wikipedia explanation.

For a discussion of the rationale by Dr. Gary Schwartz of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, read his Q&A piece The Cell Cycle As A Drug Target.    Also click to watch a video of the cell cycle  from Ilec.com.

Click the links below to see more about the following cell cycle inhibitor drugs:

Alvocidib (Flavopiridol)

Vorinostat (SAHA, brand name Zolinza)