Maytansinol inhibits microtubule assembly and induces microtubule disassembly in vitro. Target: Microtubule/Tubulin in vitro: Maytansinol disrupts the mitotic spindle and prevents mitotic exit in Drosophila. Maytansinol reduces the growth and/or survival of HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner and that the effect was more severe for p53+/+ than for p53-/- cells at both low and high doses. Maytansinol inhibits the growth of HCT116 human colon cancer cells. Maytansinol induces apoptosis in imaginal discs of wild-type larvae but not p53 mutant larvae. This parallels the finding in human HCT116 cells, in which Maytansinol was more effective when p53 was present, at least at some doses. Maytansinol induces apoptosis in imaginal discs of wild-type larvae but not p53 mutant larvae at 24 hours after exposure to drug.

• [1]. Edwards A, et al. Combinatorial effect of maytansinol and radiation in Drosophila and human cancer cells. Dis Model Mech. 2011 Jul;4(4):496-503.