A vascular-targeting agent (VTA) or vascular disrupting agent (VDA) is a drug designed to damage the vasculature (

blood vessel Blood vessels are the structures of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the human body. These vessels transport blood cells, nutrients, and oxygen to the tissues of the body. They also take waste and carbon dioxide away from ...

s) of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bl ...

tumor A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...

s causing central

necrosis Necrosis () is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, or trauma which result in the unregulated dig ...

. VTAs can be small-molecule or

ligand In coordination chemistry, a ligand is an ion or molecule ( functional group) that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex. The bonding with the metal generally involves formal donation of one or more of the ligand's ele ...

-based. Small-molecule VTAs include: * microtubule destabilizing drugs such as combretastatin A-4 disodium phosphate (CA4P), ZD6126, AVE8062, Oxi 4503 * vadimezan (ASA404)

Clinical trials

Phase II : ZD6126, CA4P, plinabulin (NPI-2358) Phase III : DMXAA (ASA404).

References

{{antineoplastic-drug-stub Cancer treatments Drugs acting on the cardiovascular system