Antileukemic drug

Antileukemic drugs are a class of medications used in the treatment of leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. These drugs are designed to target and kill leukemic cells, thereby reducing the number of cancerous cells in the body and helping to restore normal blood cell production.

Mechanism of Action

Antileukemic drugs work through various mechanisms to combat leukemia:

• Cytotoxic Agents: These drugs, such as chemotherapy agents, kill rapidly dividing cells, including cancerous leukemic cells. Examples include cytarabine and daunorubicin.

• Targeted Therapy: These drugs specifically target molecular abnormalities in leukemic cells. For instance, imatinib is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) by inhibiting the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase.

• Immunotherapy: This approach uses the body's immune system to fight leukemia. Monoclonal antibodies and CAR T-cell therapy are examples of immunotherapy used in leukemia treatment.

• Differentiation Agents: These drugs, such as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), induce leukemic cells to mature into normal blood cells, particularly in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

Types of Antileukemic Drugs

1. Chemotherapy Agents: These include drugs like vincristine, methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide. They are often used in combination regimens to maximize their effectiveness.

2. Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs): These are used primarily in CML and include drugs like imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib.

3. Monoclonal Antibodies: Examples include rituximab and blinatumomab, which target specific antigens on leukemic cells.

4. CAR T-cell Therapy: This is a form of immunotherapy where a patient's T-cells are modified to attack leukemic cells. Tisagenlecleucel is an example used in certain types of leukemia.

5. Hypomethylating Agents: Drugs like azacitidine and decitabine are used in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to alter the expression of genes involved in cancer progression.

Side Effects

Antileukemic drugs can cause a range of side effects, which vary depending on the specific drug and regimen used. Common side effects include:

• Myelosuppression: A decrease in bone marrow activity leading to reduced blood cell counts.
• Nausea and Vomiting: Often managed with antiemetic medications.
• Infections: Due to lowered white blood cell counts, patients are at increased risk of infections.
• Fatigue: A common side effect due to anemia and the body's response to treatment.
• Organ Toxicity: Some drugs can affect organs such as the liver, kidneys, or heart.

Also see

• Leukemia
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Bone marrow transplant