There are a wide range of different different chemotherapy drugs. They can be administered via injection under the skin, into the muscle, or into a vein, as well as taken orally. Drugs may be used individually, known as mono therapy, or in combination with other drugs, known as combination therapy.
Chemotherapy drugs are classified based on factors like: their chemical structure, their relationship to another drug, how they act, how they are derived. Some drugs may be classified into more than one group. Knowing the different types of chemotherapy drugs and how they work is an important factor in predicting the side effects of chemotherapy.
Types of Chemotherapy Drugs: Alkylating Agents
Alkylating agents are a commonly used type of chemotherapy drug that directly damages DNA in order to prevent the cancer cell from reproducing. Alkylating agents can work in all phases of the cell cycle, and can be used to treat many different types of cancers.
Because of the damage Alkylating agents cause to DNA, this type of chemotherapy drug can sometimes cause damage to bone marrow, sometimes even leading to acute leukemia. The risk of this increases with higher doses.
Some alkylating agents include:
- Alkyl Sulfonates: busulfan
- Ethylenimines: altretamine, thiotepa
- Nitrosoureas: streptozocin, carmustine, lomustine
- Nitrogen Mustards: Mechlorethamine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), ifosfamide,melphalan
- Triazines: decarbazine, temozolomide (Temodar)
Types of Chemotherapy Drugs: Antimetabolites
Antimetabolites are a type of chemotherapy drug that interfers with DNA and RNA growth, damaging cancer cells during the S phase. This type of chemo drug is usually used as treatment for leukemia, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and intestinal tract cancers, though it is used for other cancers as well.
Types of Chemotherapy Drugs: Anti-tumor Antibiotics: Anthracyclines
This anti-tumor antibiotic stops cancer cell growth by interfering with the enzymes necessary for DNA replication. Like the Alkylating agents, Anthracyclines are used for treatment in all phases, making them suitable for treating a wide variety of cancers.
One downside to these types of chemotherapy drugs is that they can cause permanent heart damage if given in high doses, so lifetime limits are often placed on the use of these drugs.
Types of Chemotherapy Drugs: Corticosteroids
This type of chemotherapy drug is for lymphoma cancer, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. While these drugs are often used to treat a wide variety of other diseases and conditions, they are classified as chemotherapy drugs when used to treat cancer, as they can be used to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. These types of chemotherapy drugs can also help prevent nausea and vomiting, two common side effects of chemotherapy.
Types of Chemotherapy Drugs: Mitotic inhibitors
These types of chemotherapy drugs inhibit cell growth and work during M phase of the cel cycle. However, these drugs can damage cells in all phases. As a cancer treatment, these types of thermotherapy drug are used for breast cancer , lung cancer, myelomas, leukemias, and lymphomas.
These types of chemotherapy drugs may occasionally have the side effect of causing peripheral nerve damage, though this is related to the dosage.
Types of Chemotherapy Drugs: Topoisomerase inhibitors
Topoisomerase inhibitors are a type of chemotherapy drug that interfere with the topoisomerases enzyme. Topoisomerase inhibitors are used to treat lung cancer, ovarian cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, as well as other cancers. Treatment with these chemotherapy drugs may increase the risk of a secondary cancer called acute myelogenous leukemia.
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