Chemo treatments allow doctors to treat a number of cancers. Although chemotherapy drugs perform a range of functions and employ different mechanisms of action, the drugs generally prevent cancer cells from dividing and promote cancer cell death. Upon administration and introduction into the bloodstream, chemotherapy drugs can help treat cancer growth in initial primary tumors, as well as any metastatic secondary tumors present within the body. Cancer patients may receive a number of chemo drug treatments to kill cancer cells and help fight their disease.
Paclitaxel
A common chemo treatment for cancer is paclitaxel, a taxol-based chemotherapy drug. According to the National Cancer Institute, paclitaxel performs two main functions in cancer cells: it inhibits cell division and promotes cancer cell death, called apoptosis. Paclitaxel inhibits cancer cell division by binding to structures called microtubules, which make up part of the structural support for the cell, the cytoskeleton. During cell division, the cell reorganizes its cytoskeleton to allow the cell to split in two. By binding tubulin, a component of microtubules, paclitaxel prevents the cell from re-organizing its cytoskeleton, halting cell division. The drug also activates genes that induce cell death, promoting tumor shrinkage. Paclitaxel is used to treat a number of cancers, including ovarian and breast cancer.
Cisplatin
Another common chemo drug for cancer is cisplatin, a platinum-containing medication. Platinum acts as a toxic agent in cells, so the platinum in cisplatin serves to promote cancer cell death. According to Chemocare.com, cisplatin works by damaging the cancer cells' DNA, forming chemical cross-links between the components that make up DNA. These cross-links prevent DNA synthesis--an essential step in cell division. As a result, cisplatin-induced cross links prevent cancer cells from dividing, halting tumor growth. In addition, the DNA cross-links prevent the cell from generating proteins needed for continued survival, and the cell eventually dies. Cisplatin is used in the treatment of several cancers, including stomach, breast, lung and prostate cancer.
Capecitabine
Capecitabine is a chemo drug used to treat metastatic cancer of the breast and colon, as well as other forms of cancer. It belongs to a family of drugs called antimetabolites, which mimic molecules naturally found in the cell. Upon entering the cell, antimetabolites interact with proteins and other chemicals within the cell to stop cellular processes required for survival--killing the cell. According to Chemocare.com, capecitabine works to prevent the cell from generating chemicals called pyridimidines, which make up a portion of DNA. In the presence of capecitabine, the tumor cell cannot properly generate new DNA, Without the ability to synthesize DNA the cell can no longer divide and the cell eventually dies, treating the cancer.
