Anti Cancer Drugs

The anti cancer drugs either kill cancer cells

or modify their growth. However selectivity of
drugs is limited and they are one of the most
toxic drugs used in therapy.

Anti cancer drugs can be divided into following

three categories :
1.Cytotoxic drugs
2.Hormones
3.Radioactive isotopes
 The term cytotoxic drugs applies to any
drugs that can damage or kill cells .
In practice it is used more restrictively to
drugs that inhibit cell division and are potentially
useful in cancer chemotherapy.
Classification:
A. Drugs acting directly on cells (cytotoxic drugs)

1.Alkylating agents:
- Mechlorethamine
- Cyclophosphamide
- Ifosfamide
- Chlorambucyl

2.Antimetabolites:
a) Folate antagonist
- Methotrexate
b) Pyrimidine antagonist
- Fluorouracil
- Cytarabine
- Gemcitabine

c) Purine antagonist
- Mercaptopurine
- Fludarabine
- Cladribine
3.natural and semisynthetic agents:

a) Alkaloids
- Vincristine
- Vinblastine
- Vindesine
- Taxanes
b) Glucoside
- Etopside
- Teniposide
c) Cytotoxic antibiotics
- Actinomycin
- Dactinomycin
- Bleomycin
- Doxorubicin
d) Others
- Interferons
- Streptozocin
- Hydroxyurea
B. Drugs altering hormones

1. Glucocorticoids
- Prednisolone

2. Estrogens
- Fosfestrol

3. Antiestrogen
- Tamoxifen

4. Antiandrogen
- Flutamide
5. 5 – alpha reductase inhibitor
- Finasteride

6.GnRH analogues
- Naferelin
- Goserelin

7. Progestins
- Hydroxyprogesteron acetate
Common adverse effects:
1. Nausea and vomiting ( most common )
2. Bone marrow suppression
3. Immunosuppression
4. Infections
5. Impaired wound healing
6. Depression of growth in children
7. Damage to GIT epithelium
8. Alopecia
9. Sterility
10. Teratogenecity