Lesson 4. Anticancer Drug

• Anticancer drug, also called antineoplastic drug, is any drug that is effective in the treatment of malignant, or cancerous, disease.
• Drug treatment for cancer is called chemotherapy. The job of chemotherapy is to destroy cancer cells, including those that may have spread beyond the main tumor.
• The concept of "total cell-kill" applies to chemotherapy as it does to other means of treatment: total excision of the tumor is necessary for surgical care, and complete eradication of all cancer cells is required for a cure with radiation therapy.
• MAJOR CLASSES OF ANTICANCER DRUGS

  • Alkylating Agents
  • Antimetabolites
  • Anthracyclines
  • Antibiotics
  • Natural Product Cancer Chemotherapy Drugs
• Alkylating Agents:

  • Alkylating agents are chemotherapy drugs that work by attaching alkyl groups (a specific chemical structure) to DNA molecules within cancer cells.
  • This process interferes with the cell's ability to replicate its DNA properly, ultimately leading to cell death.
  • Alkylating agents are used to treat various types of cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors like breast and lung cancer.
  • Examples include cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and temozolomide
• Antimetabolites:

  • Antimetabolites are drugs that interfere with the normal metabolic processes of cells, particularly by acting as fake building blocks for DNA or RNA synthesis.
  • By mimicking essential molecules needed for cell division, antimetabolites disrupt the process, preventing cancer cells from proliferating.
  • They are often referred to as "cytotoxic" drugs because they target actively dividing cells, including cancer cells, but can also affect normal, healthy cells.
  • Examples include methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and gemcitabine.
• Anthracyclines:

  • Anthracyclines are a class of antibiotics with potent anticancer properties.
  • They work by interfering with DNA inside cancer cells, preventing proper replication and leading to cell death.
  • Anthracyclines are effective against a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma
  • Common examples are doxorubicin, daunorubicin, and epirubicin.
• Antibiotics:

  • Certain antibiotics, typically derived from microorganisms like bacteria or fungi, have been found to have anticancer properties.
  • These antibiotics work by targeting various aspects of cancer cell growth or by interfering with essential cellular processes.
  • Examples include bleomycin, which damages DNA, and mitomycin, which inhibits DNA synthesis.
  • Antibiotics are used to treat various types of cancer, often in combination with other chemotherapy drugs.
• Natural Product Cancer Chemotherapy Drugs:

  • These drugs are derived from natural sources like plants, marine organisms, or microorganisms.
  • They often exhibit potent anticancer properties and have been used in cancer treatment for many years.
  • Vinca alkaloids, derived from the Madagascar periwinkle plant, are an example. They disrupt cell division by interfering with microtubule function, ultimately leading to cell death.
  • • Other examples include taxanes (derived from the Pacific yew tree) and camptothecins (derived from the Chinese Happy Tree).
• SOME COMMON CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS

  • Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
  • Cyclophosphamide (Cytotoxan)
  • Paclitaxel (Taxol)
  • Fluorouracil (Adrucil)
  • Gemcitabine (Gemzar)
• Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) is one of the most powerful chemotherapy drugs ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers. Unfortunately, the drug can also damage heart cells, so a patient can't take it indefinitely.
• Cyclophosphamide (Cytotoxan) is a drug that can treat many different cancers. Like many other chemotherapy drugs, it scrambles the DNA of cancer cells. Because it damages healthy DNA too, it can also cause long-term injury to the bone marrow, which, in a few rare cases, can lead to a new case of leukemia (cancer of certain white blood cells).
• Paclitaxel (Taxol) is an effective drug used for treating some cases of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, but it can damage nerves over time, leaving some people with decreased sensation in their hands and feet. The anticancer compound in this drug was first discovered in the bark of Pacific yew trees.
• Fluorouracil (Adrucil) was first approved as a chemotherapy drug in 1962 and is one of the oldest chemotherapy drugs still prescribed today. It's primarily used to treat gastrointestinal cancers (including colon, rectal, stomach) and certain types of breast cancer.
• Gemcitabine (Gemzar) is a relatively new chemotherapy drug that is effective at slowing the growth of several types of cancer. Used alone, it's a first-line treatment for pancreatic cancer that has spread or is inoperable. It's also used in combination to treat certain types of breast, ovarian, and lung cancers.
• MODALITIES COMMONLY USED IN CANCER TREATMENT:

  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Biologic response modifier (BRM)
• Surgery- Surgery involves the physical removal of cancerous tumors and surrounding tissue. It's often used when the tumor is localized and can be completely excised. Surgeons may also perform biopsies to diagnose cancer or remove lymph nodes to check for cancer spread.
• Radiation therapy- Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors. It can be delivered externally using machines (external beam radiation) or internally by placing radioactive materials directly into or near the tumor (brachytherapy). Radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with surgery or chemotherapy to treat cancer.
• Chemotherapy- Chemotherapy refers to the use of drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. These drugs can be administered orally, intravenously, or through other methods and work by targeting rapidly dividing cells, which includes cancer cells.
• Biologic response modifier (BRM)- Biologic response modifier (BRM): BRMs are substances that stimulate or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer. They work by enhancing the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. BRMs can include cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines. They are often used in combination with other cancer treatments to improve their effectiveness or to treat certain types of cancer, such as melanoma or kidney cancer.