Chemotherapy of cancer

Aziridines occur naturally in the form of mitomycins (Table 3), which have antibiotic activity (1,449). Mytomycin C is used clinically as one of the most effective agents in the chemotherapy of cancer (450). 

Chemotherapy of cancer started in the early 1940s when nitrogen mustard was administered to patients with lymphoma. Since then, numerous agents have been developed for the treatment of different cancers. 

The order for the Gelsemium alkaloid preparation to be a practical remedy in the chemotherapy of cancers, caution must be paid to the safety problem. Thus, not only should the dosage itself be strictly controlled, but also further investigation of suitable methods of administration as well as the application of combination forms should be initiated. 

Meunier, B., DNA and RATA Cleavers and Chemotherapy of Cancer or Viral Diseases, Kluwer Academic, 1996. 

Chapter 7 outlines the basic mechanism and treatment of emesis, and in particular, that induced by chemotherapy of cancer. Finally, the chemistry, pharmacology and clinical applications of antagonists of the platelet-activating factor (PAF), an important mediator of many physiological and pathological conditions, are reviewed in Chapter 8. 

Another approach to increasing the effectiveness of antiviral therapy is to use combinations of compounds. This principle has been widely exploited in chemotherapy of cancer. 

Most drugs employed in the chemotherapy of cancer are pretty crude weapons. As a class, they are known as cytotoxics molecules that kill cells. Clearly, the goal is to kill the cancer cells, leaving the normal, healthy cells of the human body untouched. Unhappily, we do not know how to do that very well. The cytotoxics employed in cancer chemotherapy have varying degrees of selectivity for killing cancer cells rather than normal ones but the selectivity is less than one would like. None of them correct the underlying error or errors that led to the tumor in the first place. Many cytotoxics... 

Cisplatin was the first example of a platinum-based chemotherapeutic but it has been followed by others carboplatin, oxoplatin, and cycloplatam. All are variations on the original theme and all find use in the chemotherapy of cancer. 

HeUmann K, Salsbury AJ, Burrage KS, Leserve AW, James SE (1973) Chemotherapy of Cancer Dissemination and Mutathesis. In Garattini S, Franchi G (eds) Raven Press, New York, p. 355 Helmann K, James SE, Salsburry AS (1974) Br J Cancer 30 179 and references cited therein... 

Methotrexate (53-6), one of the first modified pteridines investigated as a folate antagonist, is still used quite extensively in the chemotherapy of cancer and to a minor extent in other indications calling for cytotoxic agents. 

Hartwell, J. L. and M. J. Shear. 1947. Chemotherapy of cancer. Classes of compounds under investigation and active components of podophyllin. Cancer Res. 7 716-717. 

A search for antimetabolites, i.e. analogues of essential metabolites that might displace the latter in vital processes, was proposed as a rational approach to the discovery of antibacterial agents, but it has had little success other than the achievements in the folic acid field (Section 1.06.6). Substances that resemble the components of nucleic acids have, however, had considerable success in the chemotherapy of cancer and of some virus diseases and in the suppression of the immune response. They may act by becoming incorporated in false nucleic acids or by blocking the synthesis of nucleic acids, nucleotides, nucleosides or of the pyrimidine and purine bases cytosine (88), thymine (89 R = Me), adenine (90) and guanine (91 X = CH). The simplest antimetabolites are analogues of these bases. 

Another area in which natural products have had a major impact on longevity and quality of life is in the chemotherapy of cancer (see Chapter 62). In fact, most major anticancer drugs are derived from plants or microorganisms. Important examples include bleomycin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, vincristine, vinblastine, mitomycin, streptozocin, and most recently, paclitaxel... 

Weiss, L. (1973). Chemotherapy of Cancer Dissemination and Metastasis (S. Garattini G. Franchi, eds). New York Raven Press. 

Thymidylate synthetase catalyzes the conversion of deoxyuridylate to deoxy-thymidylate in a folate-dependent reaction. This enzyme is a target for many agents used in chemotherapy of cancer and treatment of infectious diseases. 

Induction of] vomiting. Emesis is an unfortunateiy common side effect of chemotherapy of cancer—hence the great need for effective antiemetic drugs. 

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