A little more than 7 million people died of cancer in 2004, according to the World Health Organization. Cancer treatment is generally meant to extend life and prevent the deterioration of the quality of life. Chemotherapy is a typical form of cancer treatment that utilizes certain kinds of drugs to destroy cancer cells, notes MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Antineoplastic drugs are used in chemotherapy. These medications are typically used to preclude cancer growth, prevent the spread of cancer and eliminate cancer cells, explains the American Cancer Society.
Alkylating Agents
Alkylating agents are antineoplastic drugs that prevent cancer from reproducing by targeting and damaging cellular DNA, explains the American Cancer Society. Alkyl sulfonates, ethylenimines, nitrosoureas and triazines are examples of alkylating agents. They are used to treat various forms of cancer including breast cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, alkylating agent use also increases the likelihood of developing leukemia. The risk of developing leukemia peaks five to 10 years after being used as cancer treatment.
Antimetabolites
Antimetabolites are antineoplastic drugs that disrupt DNA and RNA development during the synthesis phase of cellular mitosis, notes the American Cancer Society. Capecitabine, methotrexate and gemcitabine are examples of antimetabolites. Antimetabolites are typically used on breast cancer, intestinal cancer, leukemia and ovarian cancer, explains the American Cancer Society.
Anti-tumor Antibiotics
Antineoplastic drugs such as anthrecyclines are anti-tumor antibiotics that disrupt DNA, explains the American Cancer Society. While anthrecyclines are employed against a variety of cancers, they may cause permanent damage to the heart at high doses. Other kinds of anti-tumor antibiotics include mitoxantrone, actinomycin, bleomycin and mitomycin. Anti-tumor antibiotics are typically used to treat breast cancer, leukemia and prostate cancer.
Mitotic Inhibitors
Mitotic inhibitors are antineoplastic drugs derived from plants and other natural compounds. They disrupt cellular mitosis, the process of cellular replication. Some examples of mitotic inhibitors are epothilones, taxanes and vinca alkaloids, notes the American Cancer Society. Mitotic inhibitors are usually employed against breast cancer, lung cancer and leukemia. However, mitotic inhibitors may cause peripheral nerve damage.
Topoisomerase Inhibitors
Topoisomerase inhibitors are antineoplastic drugs that prevent topoisomerases enzymes from separating DNA strands during replication. Etoposide, irinotecan and topotecan are examples of topoisomerase inhibitors, according to the American Cancer Society. These drugs are commonly used to treat gastrointestinal cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer. However, topoisomerase inhibitors can cause leukemia, sometimes within two years after starting treatment.
Targeted Therapy
Trastuzumab is an antibody that affects the protein on cancerous cells, according to the New York Times Health Guide. However, trastuzumab use may also result in heart failure.
