Cytotoxic drugs
Cytotoxic Drugs
Cytotoxic drugs (pronunciation: sy-toh-TOX-ik drugs) are a category of pharmaceuticals specifically designed to kill or inhibit the growth of cells. They are primarily used in the treatment of cancer, where they target rapidly dividing cells, a characteristic feature of cancerous cells.
Etymology
The term "cytotoxic" is derived from the Greek words "kytos" meaning "cell" and "toxicos" meaning "poison". Thus, cytotoxic drugs are essentially "cell-poisoning" drugs.
Types of Cytotoxic Drugs
Cytotoxic drugs can be classified into several categories, including:
- Alkylating agents: These drugs work by attaching an alkyl group to the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and growing.
- Antimetabolites: These drugs mimic the building blocks of DNA to prevent cancer cells from growing.
- Antitumor antibiotics: These drugs interfere with the DNA and RNA of cancer cells, which prevents them from growing and dividing.
- Topoisomerase inhibitors: These drugs interfere with the enzymes topoisomerase I and II, which are needed for DNA replication.
- Mitotic inhibitors: These drugs prevent cancer cells from undergoing mitosis, or cell division.
Side Effects
Like all drugs, cytotoxic drugs can have side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and fatigue. More serious side effects can include anemia, infection, and bleeding.
Related Terms
- Chemotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen.
- Oncology: The branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
- Pharmacology: The branch of medicine concerned with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs.
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