Chemotherapy agents These are the drugs which are used in treatment of cancer Types Alkylating agents Antitumor antibiotics Antimetabolites Mitotic inhibitors Topoisomerase inhibitors Enzymes Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors Miscellaneous agents
Mode of action
Alkylating agents Examples Busulfan Carboplatin Cisplatin Oxaliplatin Cyclophosphomide Ifosfamide Adverse effects Myelosupression Peripheral neuropathy Nephrotoxicity Ototoxicity Alopecia Mode of action These are phase non specific agents . These acts by cross linking and abnormal base pairing of DNA strands which inhibit replication of DNA and inhibits cancer cell production (Alkylation) Indications Leukaemia Lymphoma Hodgkins disease Multiple myeloma Sarcoma
Antitumor antibiotics Examples Bleomycin Doxorubicin Epirubicin Adverse effects Myelosupression Cardiotoxicity Stomatitis Alopecia Nausea and Vomiting Mode of action These are phase non specific agents These acts by sliding between DNA base pairs and inhibit synthesis of DNA and inhibits cancer cell production (Intercalation) Indications Cancer of bladder, breast and bone Other cancers
Antimetabolites Examples Cytarabine Fluorouracil Methotrexate Mercaptopurine Gemcitabine Adverse effects Myelosupression Hepatotoxicity Nephrotoxicity Stomatitis Mucositis Mode of action These are S phase specific agents These acts by acting as false substitutions in the production of nucleic acids Indications Leukaemia Cancer of GIT, breast and ovary
Mitotic inhibitors E xamples Paclitaxel Vincristine Adverse effects Myelosupression Fluid retention Peripheral neuropathy Alopecia Mucositis Mode of action These are M phase specific agents These acts by arresting cell division by preventing microtubules Indications Myeloma Lymphoma Leukaemia Cancer of lung and breast
Topoisomerase inhibitors Examples Etopside Adverse effects Myelosupression Hypotension Alopecia Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea Mode of action These are G2 phase specific agents These acts by inhibiting Topoisomerase enzyme which is involved in DNA replication and RNA transcription Indications Leukaemia Cancer of GIT, breast and ovary
Enzymes Examples Aspariginase Adverse effects Allergic reactions Nausea and vomiting Liver dysfunction CNS depression Hyperglycaemia Mode of action These are G1 phase specific agents It acts by breaking asparigine there by no proteins are available for cancer cell production Indications Leukaemia Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors Examples Imatinib Nilotinib Adverse effects Myelosupression Hepatotoxicity Fluid retention Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea Mode of action These are target agents These acts by causing apoptosis and arrest the cancer cell growth Indications Liver carcinoma Renal carcinoma Prostatic cancer Leukaemia Lymphoma