maytansine

Maytansine is a potent microtubule-targeting benzoansamacrolide originally isolated from the shrubs Maytenus ovatus and Maytenus serrata[1][2][4]. It is a 19-membered macrocyclic lactam ansamycin antibiotic that binds to tubulin at or near the vinblastine (vinca) binding site, inhibiting tubulin polymerization and inducing microtubule depolymerization, which disrupts mitosis and leads to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis[1][2][4][7]. Maytansine exhibits cytotoxic activity against a wide variety of tumor cell lines and has shown *in vivo* antitumor and antileukemic effects[1][4][5]. Severe systemic toxicity and poor efficacy as a single agent have prevented its further clinical development as a standalone chemotherapy. Currently, maytansine is primarily used as the cytotoxic component (payload) in antibody-drug conjugates for targeted cancer therapy, where its conjugation to monoclonal antibodies enhances selectivity and reduces systemic toxicity[1][3][7].

Other names

maitansinemaitansinamaitansinum