ANTICANCER DRUGS

& TECHNIQUES
Presented by - Gurbakhshish Singh

INTRODUCTION

Cancer : a disease of uncontrolled

multiplication and spread of abnormal forms
of bodys own cells

Changes Occurring In
Cancer
Activation of proto-oncogenes into
oncogenes
Loss of function of tumor suppressor genes

 Changes in growth factors

Resistance to apoptosis
Dedifferentiation and loss of function

CHEMOTHERAPY
Causes a lethal cytotoxic lesion
Tumor progression arrest

Cure: long term disease free survival.

Palliation (alleviation of symptoms)

Problems Associated
1.

Resistance: Multidrug resistance

2.

Toxicity: affects normal cells undergoing

rapid proliferation
Common toxicities- severe vomiting,
alopecia, stomatitis and myelosuppression.

Anticancer Drugs

Destroy cancer cells by stopping growth or

multiplication at some point in their life
cycles
http://www.drugs.com/cancer.html

CLASSIFICATION

Cell cycle nonspecific agents (CCNSA)

Cell cycle specific agents (CCSA)

MECHANISM
Block nucleic acid biosynthesis
Directly destroy DNA and inhibit DNA
reproduction
Interfere transcription and block RNA
synthesis
Interfere protein synthesis and function
Influence hormone homeostasis

Blocking Nucleic Acid

Biosynthesis

Antimetabolites:

Folic acid antagonist: inhibit dihydrofolate

reductase (methotrexate)

Pyrimidine antagonist: inhibit thymidylate

synthetase (fluorouracil) and DNA polymerase
(cytarabine)

Purine Antagonists: inhibit interconversion of

purine nucleotide (mercaptopurine)

Interfering Protein
Synthesis
Antitubulin : vinca alkaloids and taxanes
Interfere
the
Harringtonines

function

of

ribosome:

Influence amino acid supple: L-asparaginase;

Bind tubulin, destroy spindle to produce mitotic
arrest
www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/655cancer.
html

Interfere transcription

Bind with DNA to block RNA production

- doxorubicin

Influence the structure and

function of DNA

Alkylating agent: mechlorethamine,

cyclophosphamide

Platinum: ciz-platinum

Antibiotic: bleomycin and mitomycin C

Topoisomerase inhibitor: camtothecine and

podophyllotoxin

Influence Hormone homeostasis

Bind to hormone receptors
Inhibit tumor growth

Estrogen and estrogen antagonistic drugs

Androgen and androgen antagonistic drugs
Progestrogens
Gonadotropin releasing hormone inhibitor:
leuprolide, goserelin

RADIOTHERAPY

Curative or palliative treatment

Shaped radiation beams aimed from several

angles of exposure to intersect at the tumor

Caused by a photon, electron, or ion beam

directly or indirectly ionizing the atoms

DNA damage inherited through cell division.

LIMITATIONS AND SIDE-EFFECTS

Cells of solid tumors become deficient in

oxygen
2 to 3 times more resistant to radiation damage
than those in a normal oxygen environment
Damage to the epithelial surfaces
Soreness and ulceration commonly occur in the
mouth and throat
Infertility
Fibrosis and Heart diseases

FUTURE PROSPECTS

siRNA
- Interferes with the expression of a
specific gene
-Different effectiveness in different cell
types
- Innate immunity

THANK YOU!!