A review.Vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) are a new class of potential anticancer drugs that selectively destroy tumor vasculature and shutdown blood supply to solid tumors, causing extensive tumor cell necrosis.VDAs target established tumor blood vessels, which are distinct from antiangiogenic agents that prevent the formation of new blood vessels.There are two types of VDAs, small mols. and ligand-directed agents.Most of the small mol. VDAs are tubulin inhibitors, including CA4P, ZD6126, AVE8062, OXi-4503, NPI-2358, MN-029, EPC2407, CYT997, MPC-6827, ABT-751 and TZT-1027.The others are synthetic flavonoids including FAA and DMXAA that induce the production of local cytokines such as TNF-alpha.VDAs have shown good antitumor efficacy in animal models, especially in combination with established anticancer agents.Several VDAs, including CA4P and DMXAA, have demonstrated good safety profile as well as some promising efficacy in phase I and II clin. trials.Currently CA4P, DMXAA and AVE8062 are in phase III clin. trials, NPI-2358, CYT997, MPC-6827 and ABT-751 are in phase II clin. trials, and OXi-4503 and EPC2407 are in phase I clin. trials.This review will focus on recent progress in the discovery and development of small mol. VDAs, including recently published patent applications and issued patents related with small mol. VDAs.