Types of chemotherapy drugs
Chemotherapy drugs are classified based on how they work. The main types of
chemotherapy drugs are described below:
- Alkylating drugs kill cancer cells by directly attacking DNA, the genetic material of
the genes. Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating drug.
- Antimetabolites interfere with the production of DNA and keep cells from growing and
multiplying. An example of an antimetabolite is 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
- Antitumor antibiotics are made from natural substances such as fungi in the soil. They
interfere with important cell functions, including production of DNA and cell proteins.
Doxorubicin and bleomycin belong to this group of chemotherapy drugs.
- Plant alkaloids prevent cells from dividing normally. Vinblastine and vincristine are
plant alkaloids obtained from the periwinkle plant.
- Steroid hormones slow the growth of some cancers that depend on hormones. For example,
tamoxifen is used to treat breast cancers that depend on the hormone estrogen for growth.
Combination chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is usually given in addition to other cancer treatments, such as surgery
and radiation therapy. When given with other treatments, it is called adjuvant
chemotherapy. An oncologist decides which chemotherapy drug or combination of drugs will
work best for each patient. The use of two or more drugs together often works better than
a single drug for treating cancer. This is called combination chemotherapy. Scientific
studies of different drug combinations help doctors learn which combinations work best for
each type of cancer |