Chemotherapy anticancer drugs

Malik, N., Evagorou, E. G., and Duncan, R. Dendrimer-platinate A novel approach to cancer chemotherapy. Anticancer Drugs 10 767-776, 1999. 

Several currently available antiemetic drugs can prevent vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. Anticancer drugs that cause vomiting are listed in Table 18.2. 

Duncan, R. (1992) Drug—polymer conjugates potential for improved chemotherapy, Anticancer Drugs 3, 175-210. 

N. Malik, E.G. Evagorou, R. Duncan, Dendrimer-platinate a novel approach to cancer chemotherapy. Anticancer Drugs 10 (8) (1999) 767-776. 

The cis isomer ( cisplatin ) is an effective anticancer drug. This reflects the ability of the two Cl atoms to interact with the nitrogen atoms of DNA, a molecule responsible for cell reproduction. The trans isomer is ineffective in chemotherapy, presumably because the Q atoms are too far apart to react with a DNA molecule. 

TNF was originally identified because of its cytotoxic activity against some tumor cell lines and its ability to induce hemorrhagic necrosis of solid tumors in various animal models. However, the clinical use of TNF as an anticancer drug has been so far limited by its severe cardiovascular side effects. Therefore, TNF treatment is limited to regional and local administration of high doses of TNF, often in combination with chemotherapy, as accomplished in isolated limb and isolated hepatic perfusion (ILP and IHP, respectively) [5]. In the case of ILP, typically metastases are treated, patients benefit from this procedure by salvage of limbs from a loss by amputation. 

Mofin Y, Fayette J (2011) Cmrent chemotherapies for reorrrent/metastatic head and neck cancer. Anticancer Drugs 22 621-625... 

Most anticancer drugs damage hair follicles and produce partial or complete alopecia. Patients should be warned of this reaction, especially if paclitaxel, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, methotrexate, or dactinomycin is used. Hair usually regrows normally after completion of chemotherapy. 

Methotrexate is one of the few anticancer drugs that can be safely administered intrathecally for the treatment of meningeal metastases. Its routine use as prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia has greatly reduced the incidence of recurrences in the CNS and has contributed to the cure rate in this disease. Daily oral doses of methotrexate are used for severe cases of the nonneoplastic skin disease psoriasis (see Chapter 41), and methotrexate has been used as an immunosuppressive agent in severe rheumatoid arthritis. 

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