Cancer treatment drugs

Cancer medications vary in terms of their chemical make-up, delivery method, effectiveness, side effects, and mode of action. The article that follows describes them.

page contents

1. an introduction
2. Cancer drug groups
3. Side effects of cancer drugs

There are many different cancer drug types, and the doctor chooses the best one for the patient based on the organ affected by the cancer, the speed at which it spreads, and their overall health. Here are more specifics about it:

Cancer drug groups

Knowing how drugs work is crucial for anticipating side effects, and it also aids doctors in prescribing the right drugs for the patient, especially when multiple medications are needed. Knowing the makeup of each drug will help you choose the best times to take them without interfering with one another. Medications are grouped according to their mechanism of action, including:

1. Alkylating agents

The most crucial information regarding this group is as follows:

• Types of medications

Include:

The Arabic name of the medication	The medication's English name	how the medication is administered
Bendamustine	Bendamustine	intravenous syringe
Busulfan	Busulfan	oral tablets intravenous syringe
carboplatin	Carboplatin	intravenous syringe
Carmustine	Carmustine	intravenous syringe
chlorambucil	Chlorambucil	oral tablets
cisplatin	Cisplatin	IV injection
Cyclophosphamide	Cyclophosphamide	oral tablets IV injection
Dacarbazine	Dacarbazine	intravenous syringe
ifosfamide;	Ifosfamide	intravenous syringe
Lomustine	Lomustine	Oral capsules
mechlorethamine	Mechlorethamine	intravenous syringe
Melphalan	Melphalan	oral tablets  IV injection
oxaliplatin	Oxaliplatin	IV injection
temozolomide	Temozolomide	oral tablets  IV injection
thiotepa	Thiotepa	intravenous syringe
trabectedin	trabectedin	intravenous syringe
Altretamine	Altretamine	Oral capsules

• Its mode of operation

The DNA of cells is destroyed by the addition of an alkyl group by these drugs. This mechanism works throughout the cell cycle and can be used to treat many types of cancers, such as:  lung cancer, breast cancer, leukemia, and ovarian cancer.

• risk factors

The risk of developing leukaemia increases after taking alkylating agents for 5 to 10 years because they destroy the genetic material of the cell, which may affect the bone marrow cells that are in charge of producing new blood cells and, in rare cases, result in the development of leukaemia. This risk depends on the dosage and length of treatment with the drug.

2. Nitrosoureas

The most crucial details about this group are as follows:

• Types of medications 

Include:

The Arabic name of the medication	The medication's English name	how the medication is administered
Carmustine	Carmustine	IV injection
Lomustine	Lomustine	Oral capsules
streptozotocin	Streptozocin	IV injection

• Its mode of operation

Alkylating agents have the same mechanism of action as the previous group of drugs because they belong to a special class of drugs, but they differ from the other alkylating agents in that they can enter the brain while the other alkylating agents cannot.

These drugs are crucial in the treatment of brain cancer because they enter the brain through a specific area that prevents most medications from getting to the brain.

3.Antimetabolites

The most crucial details about this group are as follows:

• Types of medications 

Include:

The Arabic name of the medication	The medication's English name	how the medication is administered
azacitidine	Azacitidine	IV injection
fluorouracil	Fluorouracil	IV injection  Topical creams and solutions
mercaptopurine	Mercaptopurine	oral tablets
capecitabine;	Capecitabine	oral tablets
cladribine	Cladribine	oral tablets
clofarabine	Clofarabine	IV injection
decitabine	Decitabine	IV injection
Cytarabine	Cytarabine	IV injection
Floxyuridine	Floxuridine	Intravenous injection
fludarabine;	Fludarabine	oral tablets  IV injection
gemcitabine;	Gemcitabine	IV injection
Hydroxyurea	Hydroxyurea	Oral capsules and tablets
methotrexate;	Methotrexate	IV injection  oral tablets
nelarabine	Nelarabine	IV injection
pemetrexed;	Pemetrexed	IV injection
Pentostatin	Pentostatin	IV injection
pralatrexate	Pralatrexate	IV injection
thioguanine	Thioguanine	oral tablets
Trifluridine	Trifluridine & tipiracil combination	oral tablets

• Its mode of operation

These anti-cancer medications interfere with enzymes necessary for DNA transcription and translation, stopping the division of cells.

Leukemia, ovarian cancer, bowel cancer, among other cancers, are all treated with it.

4. Antitumor Antibiotics

The most crucial details about this group are as follows:

• Types of medications 

Include:

The Arabic name of the medication	The medication's English name	how the medication is administered
bleomycin	Bleomycin	Intravenous or intramuscular injection
mitomycin	Mitomycin	IV injection  Topical application
dactinomycin	Dactinomycin	IV injection
mitoxantrone	Mitoxantrone	IV injection

In addition to the anthracycline group, which is categorised separately because it is a subset of the anti-cancer antibiotics but has some pharmacological characteristics that set it apart from the others, there are other subgroups that include:

medicament name	The medication's English name	how the medication is administered
Danorubicin	Daunorubicin	IV injection
doxorubicin;	Doxorubicin	IV injection
Liposomal doxorubicin	Doxorubicin Liposomal	IV injection
Epirubicin	Epirubicin	IV injection
idarubicin	Idarubicin	IV injection
Valrubicin	Valrubicin	injection solution for the bladder

• Its mode of operation

Medicines of this group change the genetic material in cancer cells, preventing the spread of cancer. Despite being antibiotics by nature, they are not used to treat infections.

5. Plant alkaloids topoisomerase inhibitors

The most crucial details are as follows:

• Types of medications 

Include:

The Arabic name of the medication	The medication's English name	how the medication is administered
irinotecan	Irinotecan	IV injection
Liposomal irinotecan	Irinotecan Liposomal	IV injection
Topotecan  etoposide	Topotecan Etoposide	IV injection  Oral capsules
mitoxantrone	Mitoxantrone	IV injection
Teniposide	Teniposide	IV injection

• Its mode of operation

These cancer drugs interact with enzymes called topoisomerase, which separate the two DNA chains when transcription occurs. These medications prevent the separation of the two DNA chains, which prevents cell replication.

6. Mitotic inhibitors

The most crucial details are as follows:

• Types of medications 

Include:

The Arabic name of the medication	The medication's English name	how the medication is administered
carbazetaxel	cabazitaxel	oral tablets
docetaxel;	Docetaxel	IV injection
Nab - paclitaxel	Nab-paclitaxel	IV injection
paclitaxel	Paclitaxel	IV injection
vinblastine	Vinblastine	IV injection
vincristine	Vincristin	IV injection
Liposomal vincristine	Vincristine Liposomal	IV injection
Vinorelbine	Vinorelbine	IV injection  oral tablets

• Its mode of operation

These cancer medications are made from natural sources like plants. Their importance lies in the fact that they prevent cell division, so they are used in the treatment of breast cancer and lung cancer, but they can damage the nerve.

7. Corticosteroids or corticosteroids

The most crucial details are as follows:

• Types of medications 

Include:

The Arabic name of the medication	The medication's English name	how the medication is administered
dexamethasone	Dexamethasone	IV injection  oral tablets  drops  Ear sprays  Dermal ointments  Ointments for the eyes
Prednisone	Prednisone	oral tablets
Methylprednisolone	Methylprednisolone	oral tablets  IV injection  Dermal ointments

• Its mode of operation

Natural hormones called corticosteroids are prescribed to people with cancer and other diseases. They are specifically used to stop chemotherapy-related vomiting in cancer patients. They can be taken before taking some medications to prevent severe allergic reactions in the patient.

Side effects of cancer drugs

It varies depending on the medication's type, dosage, length of time it must be taken, patient health, and other medications they are taking, but some symptoms are more prevalent than others, such as:

• General body exhaustion and tiredness
• vomiting.
• hair loss
• mouth ulcers
• diarrhea.