Anticancer drug
Anticancer Drug
An Anticancer drug or Antineoplastic drug (pronunciation: an-tee-nee-oh-plas-tik drug) is a type of medication used in the treatment of cancer. These drugs are also known as cancer drugs, chemotherapy, or chemo.
Etymology
The term "Anticancer" is derived from the Greek words 'anti' meaning 'against' and 'karkinos' meaning 'crab' or 'cancer'. The term "Antineoplastic" is derived from 'anti' meaning 'against' and 'neos' meaning 'new' and 'plastikos' meaning 'formation'. These terms reflect the drugs' function of fighting against the formation of new cancer cells.
Types of Anticancer Drugs
There are several types of anticancer drugs, each with a different mechanism of action. Some of the most common types include:
- Alkylating Agents: These drugs work by damaging the DNA of cancer cells to prevent them from reproducing.
- Antimetabolites: These drugs mimic nutrients that the cancer cells need to grow, thereby preventing cell division.
- Antitumor Antibiotics: These drugs interfere with the enzymes involved in DNA replication.
- Topoisomerase Inhibitors: These drugs interfere with the action of topoisomerases, which are enzymes that help separate DNA strands during replication.
- Mitotic Inhibitors: These drugs prevent cancer cells from undergoing mitosis, or cell division.
Side Effects
Like all medications, anticancer drugs can cause side effects. Some of the most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and fatigue. More serious side effects can include anemia, infection, and bleeding.
See Also
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