What is Biology Good For? Killing Cancer Cells: Chemotherapy Drugs
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Common Chemotherapy Drugs
Most chemo drugs are known as "anti-neoplastics". [anti-nee-oh-PLAS-tics.], neoplastics being cancer cells. Most antineoplastics work by stopping cell division in one or another stage of the cell cycle. They cause cell death in any dividing cell, and since most human cells are not dividing all the time, they preferentially kill cancer cells. But any human cell types which divide frequently are also killed: cells in the gastrointestional tract, the bone marrow, and hair follicles. These are reversible processes and will symptoms will disappear when the drug is discontinued. (But the cancer cells will be hopefully killed by then). [Quote]
The most common drugs used for newly diagnosed cancer are Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), Methotrexate, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and Doxorubicin (Adriamycin). These are often given in combination: CMF - which stands for Cytoxan, Methotrexate and 5-Fluorouracil, AC - for Adriamycin and Cytoxan, or CAF (or FAC) - Cytoxan, Adriamycin, and 5-Fluorouracil.
Adriamycin Generic Name: Doxorubicin Mode of Action: Adriamycin prevents DNA replication. The exact mechanism is still being studied, but it may be a "topoisomerase inhibitor". Topoisomerases are enzymes that temporarily cut one strand of DNA during replication to help unwind the double helix.. Adriamycin prevents the topoisomerase from reattaching the cut ends. A new version of doxorubicin 'wrapped up' in a lipid coat (liposome) called Doxil has been recently approved as a Kaposi's sarcoma treatment.
Common Side Effects: hair loss, mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, lowered blood counts (WBCs, RBCs and platelets), damage to the heart muscle, skin damage if drug leaks out of vein during infusion.
Cytoxan Generic Name: Cyclophosphamide Mode of Action: Interferes with DNA synthesis and replication. Cytoxan is a drug that cross-links with the nucleotides of DNA. When cross-linked with Cytoxan, the DNA double helix is unable to unwind, DNA replication does not occur, and the cells die.
Common side effects: Cytoxan is one of the nastier chemo drugs, with lots of side effects. Side effects include lowered blood counts (WBCs, Platelets, RBCs), nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, loss of menstrual periods, decreased sex drive, bladder irritation, metallic taste in mouth during injection.
5FU or Adrucil Generic Name: 5-Fluorouracil
Mode of Action: Stops DNA synthesis and replication by inhibiting the enzyme thymidylate synthetase, involved in the incorporation of the nucleotide T into the DNA during replication.
Common Side Effects: mild nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, thinning or loss of hair, skin rash and itching, skin darkening, weakness.
Mexate, Emtexate, Metatrexan, Methopterin, or Folex Generic Name: Methotrexate
Mode of Action: Blocks actively dividing cells from making nucleotides. Methotrexate competes in the cell for an enzyme called folic acid reductase, and prevents the synthesis of tetrahydrofolate, a chemical used by the cell for making nucleotides. Without nucleotides, DNA synthesis cannot proceed.
Common side effects: mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, upset stomach, skin and eye sensitivity to sunlight, abnormal liver function tests, hair loss, anemia.
Taxol Generic Name: Paclitaxel
Mode of Action: Taxol (Paclitaxel) was first isolated from the from the bark of the Pacific Yew tree (Taxus brevifolia). Taxol disrupts the balance between tubulin and microtubule fibers, causing the formation of abnormal microtubule bundles. This prevents dividing cells from moving chromosomes to their "daughter" cells by interfering with spindle fiber formation.
Common side effects: Allergic reaction such as low blood pressure, shortness of breath, rash; loss of hair; low blood cell counts; nerve pain.
Oncovin, Vincasar, Vincrex, or Leurocristine Generic Name: Vincristine Mode of Action: Prevents the formation of spindle fibers during metaphase of mitosis. Vincristine is an alkaloid isolated from the Madagascar periwinkle, Catharantus roseus, formerly classified as Vinca rosea, which led to it being called a Vinca alkaloid, and thus vincristine. It binds to tubulin, the protein that makes up the spindle fiber microtubules, and prevents metaphase of mitosis.
Common side effects: bloating, nausea and vomiting, skin rash, temporary loss of hair, neurological problems
Leukerin, Mercaleukin, or Puri-Nethol Generic Name: 6-Mercaptopurine, or 6-MP
Mode of Action: Inhibits the synthesis of the purine nucleotides A and G necessary for DNA synthesis; may also mimic A and G during DNA replication and stop further DNA synthesis.
Common side effects:low blood counts, mouth sores, skin rash/acne, mild nausea, abnormal liver function.
Ara-C, Arabitin, Aracytine, Cytarbel, or Cytosar Generic Name: Cytosine arabinoside Mode of Action: Ara-C is a DNA synthesis inhibitor. Its structure is very similar to the nucleotide C, but instead of having a ribose (for RNA) or a deoxyribose (for DNA) sugar, its consists of an arabinose sugar - a 5 carbon sugar that competes for the enzymes in DNA synthesis, but cannot function in DNA or RNA.
Common Side effects: decreased blood counts with risk of infection, bleeding and anemia which may require blood transfusion, nausea and diarrhea, abdominal pains, mouth sores, liver injury (which gets better after the drug is stopped).
For Further Information, see:
Cancer Chemotherapy Chemotherapy Pages Breast Cancer Decision Guide
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Questions: 3 points extra credit. Click on the links for more information! One sentence should be enough to answer each question . Once you hit 'submit', you will receive a Thank You confirmation page.
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Questions: 1. Aside from Chemotherapy, list at least two other methods available to stop the spread of cancer, breast cancer or otherwise. 2. What is leukemia and why would it be treated with chemotherapy rather than other methods? 3. Tumors metastisize when they attract new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) and escape to other parts of the body via the new blood vessel. Why might drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors be useful in stopping the spread of cancer (you don't need to visit the link unless you want to - just think about this one!)