Cancer is a complex disease that occurs in many forms and by many processes. Consequently, different therapies have been developed to battle the disease. These treatments approach the disease from various angles in an attempt to stop the process of cancer cell replication. Chemotherapy is a powerful treatment to battle a powerful disease. Success rates vary widely depending on the type of cancer and the chosen chemotherapy.
Alkylating Agents
According to Emory University, alkylating agents interfere with the DNA of a cell, causing it to die. It does this in three ways. It causes repair enzymes to fragment the DNA. It creates a bridge between DNA atoms that prevents replication and it creates mutations that prevent proper replication. Lymphomas, chronic leukemia, cancer of the breast, lung, ovary and prostate are treated with alkylating agents.
Plant Alkaloids
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, plant alkaloids bind to the tubules that form during cell division. This prevents the cell from dividing so it dies during division. Lung cancer, breast cancer and testes cancer are treated with plant alkaloids.
Antitumor Antibiotics
Anti-tumor antibiotics prevent RNA synthesis and DNA replication, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. This disruption in replication causes the cell to die. Anti-tumor antibiotics are used to treat leukemia and testicular cancer along with several other types of cancer.
Antimetabolites
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, antimetabolites interfere with DNA replication by acting like a part of the process involved in the DNA synthesis. This interference occurs during the synthesis phase of cellular replication. Antimetabolites are used to treat tumors of the ovaries, breast or gastrointestinal tract.
Topoisomerase Inhibitors
The National Cancer Institute defines a topoisomerase inhibitor as a substance that blocks an enzyme whose job it is to break DNA apart and join it back together. Without this enzyme, cell replication stops and the cell dies. Topoisomerase inhibitors are used to treat ovarian cancer, lung cancer, leukemia and gastrointestinal cancer.
Miscellaneous Antineoplastics
According to Mosby, certain cancer drugs have rare characteristics or are in a class by themselves. Some block the blood supply to cancerous tumors. Some interfere with cancer reproduction. Some are for specific cancers. Some of these antineoplastics are sex-specific. These work by blocking the effect of male or female hormones that are feeding the cancer. Miscellaneous antineoplastics treat everything from skin cancer to leukemia to adrenal gland cancer.
