Tubulin inhibitor 14 is a potent inhibitor of NQO2 (quinone oxidoreductase 2) with an IC50 of 1.0 μM, which also inhibits tubulin polymerization and the formation of endothelial cell capillary-like tubes. As a microtubule destabilizer, Tubulin inhibitor 14 has potential tumor-selective, anti-angiogenic, and vascular-destructive properties [1].

Tubulin inhibitor 14 (compound 4), across varying concentrations (0-20 μM) and incubation times (24-96 hours), significantly impedes the proliferation of various cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, HepG2, SNU423, A549, HCT116) by leading to mechanisms such as G2/M cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells at 1-5 μM for 24 or 48 hours, and inducing apoptosis in SNU423 cells at 0.5-1 μM over 24 hours. In addition, at a concentration of 0.5-1 μM for 24 hours, it disrupts the cytoskeleton network in endothelial cells, causing morphological changes. Efficacy is demonstrated through distinct assays indicating significant growth inhibition with differential IC50 values noted for each cell line, G2/M cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells, apoptosis induction in SNU423 cells, and cytoskeleton disruption in HUVECs, evidencing the compound's potency across a spectrum of cellular activities related to cancer progression.