Chemotherapy medication

Chemotherapy medications are a class of drugs used in the treatment of cancer. These medications work by targeting and killing rapidly dividing cells, a hallmark of cancerous growths. Chemotherapy can be used as a primary treatment or in conjunction with other treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy.

Mechanism of Action

Chemotherapy drugs can be classified based on their mechanism of action. The main categories include:

• Alkylating agents: These drugs work by adding an alkyl group to the DNA, which prevents the DNA from replicating and ultimately leads to cell death. Examples include cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide.

• Antimetabolites: These mimic the building blocks of DNA or RNA, interfering with their synthesis. Examples include methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil.

• Topoisomerase inhibitors: These interfere with the enzymes topoisomerase I and II, which help unwind DNA for replication. Examples include doxorubicin and etoposide.

• Mitotic inhibitors: These prevent cell division by inhibiting the mitotic spindle. Examples include paclitaxel and vincristine.

• Cytotoxic antibiotics: These are not used to treat infections but to kill cancer cells. Examples include bleomycin and dactinomycin.

Administration

Chemotherapy can be administered in several ways, depending on the type of cancer and the specific drug used:

• Intravenous (IV): The most common method, where drugs are injected directly into the bloodstream.

• Oral: Some chemotherapy drugs can be taken in pill form.

• Intramuscular (IM): Injection into a muscle.

• Subcutaneous: Injection under the skin.

• Intrathecal: Injection into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Side Effects

Chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cells, which means they can also affect healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those in the bone marrow, digestive tract, and hair follicles. Common side effects include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Hair loss
• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Increased risk of infection

Resistance

Cancer cells can develop resistance to chemotherapy drugs, making treatment less effective. Mechanisms of resistance include:

• Increased drug efflux
• Drug inactivation
• Alteration of drug targets

Also see

• Cancer treatment
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy