What are some of the most common chemo drugs? (original) (raw)

Chemotherapy drugs can kill cancerous cells through several mechanisms. There are many types of chemotherapy drugs, including alkylating agents and antimetabolites.

Chemotherapy drugs are unable to differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells, which can cause side effects during treatment. Healthy cells typically rebound from the effects of chemotherapy, but cancer cells usually do not.

This article discusses some of the most common chemotherapy medications for use during cancer treatment.

There are several main types of chemotherapy drugs that doctors use to target different types of cancer. The sections below look at these in more detail.

Alkylating agents

These were some of the earliest cancer treatments, and they are still common today. They work by disrupting the DNA inside cells, which prevents them from dividing.

They can help treat many types of cancer, but they are most effective against slow-growing cancers.

Some examples of alkylating agents include:

Antimetabolites

These drugs work by pretending to be nutrients that cells need to grow. The cell eventually starves to death after consuming them.

These medications only work at specific stages in a cell’s growth cycle.

Some examples of antimetabolites include:

Plant alkaloids

Plant alkaloids are plant-based substances that prevent cancerous cells from dividing and growing into more cells.

They can work throughout a cell’s growth cycle, but they are most effective during certain phases.

Some examples of plant alkaloids include:

Anti-tumor antibiotics

These drugs differ from antibiotics for treating infections. They work by causing DNA strands to unravel, which prevents the cell from dividing.

Some examples of anti-tumor antibiotics include:

Most cancer types have standard protocols that a doctor can follow when beginning treatment.

For example, doctors consider the type of cancer a person has and its stage before estimating which drugs will have the best response rates. They also consider response duration in their decision.

They will ultimately choose a drug with the highest response rate and longest duration for that type and stage of cancer.

Chemotherapy can cause several side effects, some of which can be serious. Doctors take into account the person’s overall health when deciding the number and dosage of chemotherapy drugs to recommend.

Doctors administer chemotherapy in cycles of treatment and recovery. These cycles are generally 2–3 weeks long and may repeat for 3–6 months. Most people receive chemotherapy drugs through an injection or infusion.

Some side effects of chemotherapy drugs can include:

The following sections look at some common chemotherapy medications for each common type of cancer.

Breast cancer

For breast cancer, a variety of chemotherapy drugs may be necessary, including:

Lung cancer

Prostate cancer

Doctors only use chemotherapy for prostate cancer if it spreads outside of the prostate and if hormone therapy is unsuccessful.

Some chemotherapy drugs for prostate cancer include:

Doctors may start with a combination of docetaxel and prednisone, which is a steroid-based treatment. They may try cabazitaxel if the first combination does not treat the cancer.

Colorectal cancer

Doctors may use combinations of two or three drugs at a time for treating colorectal cancer.

Melanoma

The two most common chemotherapy drugs for treating melanoma are dacarbazine and temozolomide. Doctors may use these drugs on their own or combined with other medications.

Bladder cancer

Doctors may administer chemotherapy for bladder cancer indirectly through a vein or muscle or directly into the bladder. They typically opt for direct administration when the cancer is only present in the bladder’s lining.

People with bladder cancer might receive a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy drugs that include:

When using chemotherapy without radiation therapy, the options include:

Doctors may suggest receiving chemotherapy drugs individually if treatment combinations affect the body too strongly.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Doctors typically combine several drugs, including:

Doctors may use a combination of drugs called CHOP. This stands for cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, Oncovin (vincristine), and prednisone.

Chemotherapy breaks down cells with the goal of killing off cancer cells and preventing them from growing. It can be very hard on the body and cause several side effects.

However, there are some alternatives to chemotherapy, including:

Chemotherapy drugs work by disrupting the life cycle of cells and eventually killing them. These drugs target all cells, including healthy ones. However, normal cells typically regenerate after treatment finishes.

There are many chemotherapy drugs that doctors can choose from, depending on the type of cancer a person has and its stage. Most of these drugs come with side effects, but doctors can prescribe treatments to help alleviate some of these.