List of antileukemic drugs

List of Antileukemic Drugs

Antileukemic drugs are pharmacological agents used in the treatment of leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. These drugs are designed to target and eliminate leukemic cells, thereby controlling the spread of the disease and alleviating symptoms. The choice of antileukemic drug depends on the type of leukemia, its stage, and the patient's overall health. This article provides a comprehensive list of antileukemic drugs, categorized by their mechanism of action.

Alkylating Agents

Alkylating agents are chemicals that add alkyl groups to DNA, which can lead to cell death. They are among the oldest types of chemotherapy drugs used in leukemia treatment.

• Cyclophosphamide
• Bendamustine
• Busulfan

Antimetabolites

Antimetabolites interfere with DNA and RNA growth by substituting for the normal building blocks of RNA and DNA. These drugs are particularly effective in treating fast-growing cancers.

• Methotrexate
• Cytarabine
• Mercaptopurine
• Thioguanine

Topoisomerase Inhibitors

Topoisomerase inhibitors interfere with the action of topoisomerase enzymes, which help separate strands of DNA so they can be copied. By interfering with these enzymes, these drugs can damage DNA and cause cell death.

• Etoposide
• Teniposide

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) target specific enzymes known as tyrosine kinases, which are involved in the signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and division. These drugs are particularly effective in treating certain types of leukemia that are driven by specific genetic mutations.

• Imatinib
• Dasatinib
• Nilotinib
• Ponatinib

Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced molecules engineered to serve as substitute antibodies that can restore, enhance, or mimic the immune system's attack on cancer cells.

• Rituximab
• Alemtuzumab
• Obinutuzumab

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids, often simply called steroids, are anti-inflammatory drugs that are used in the treatment of various conditions, including leukemia.

• Prednisone
• Dexamethasone

Nucleoside Analogues

Nucleoside analogues are a class of drugs that mimic the building blocks of DNA and RNA, getting incorporated into DNA or RNA during the replication process and causing chain termination.

• Fludarabine
• Cladribine
• Clofarabine

Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors

Hedgehog pathway inhibitors target the hedgehog signaling pathway, which is involved in cell growth and development. This pathway can be abnormally activated in certain cancers, including leukemia.

• Vismodegib

Proteasome Inhibitors

Proteasome inhibitors block the action of proteasomes, which are large protein complexes that degrade unneeded or damaged proteins within the cell. By inhibiting proteasomes, these drugs can induce cell death.

• Bortezomib

CAR T-Cell Therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that modifies a patient's T-cells to attack cancer cells more effectively.

• Tisagenlecleucel
• Axicabtagene ciloleucel

BCL-2 Inhibitors

BCL-2 inhibitors target the BCL-2 protein, which promotes cell survival by preventing apoptosis (programmed cell death). Inhibiting this protein can induce apoptosis in cancer cells.

• Venetoclax