What are anti-microtubule agents primarily used for?

Anti-microtubule agents are primarily used to interfere with cell formation and growth. These agents disrupt the normal function of microtubules, which are key structural components of the cytoskeleton that play critical roles in cell division. By targeting the microtubules, these drugs prevent the proper formation of the mitotic spindle during cell division, leading to cell cycle arrest and inhibiting the proliferation of rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells.

This mechanism is particularly important in cancer treatment, as many cancer therapies aim to stop or slow down the growth of tumors by interfering with the division of cancerous cells. The strategic disruption of the cell cycle by anti-microtubule agents effectively reduces the ability of these cells to multiply and could lead to cell death, thus providing a therapeutic benefit.