Classifications of Neoplastic Drugs

Question 1

Antimetabolites

Answer 1

Cell Cycle Specific
Interfere with DNA and RNA Synthesis by acting as false metabolites, which are incorporated into the DNA strand or block essential enzymes, so that DNA synthesis is prevented.

Question 2

Antimetabolites (examples)

Answer 2

Premetrexate (Slinta), cytosine arabinoside (ara-C, Cytosar-U), eniluracil
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Floxuridine (FUDR, 5-FUDR)
Hydroxyurea (Hydrea)
6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP, purinethol)
Methotrexate (amethopterin, Mexate, Folex)
6-Thioguanine (6-TG)
Gemcitabine (Gemzar)
Fludarabine (Fludara)
Capecitabine (Xeloda)
Deoxycoformycin (pentostatin)

Question 3

Vinca Alkaloids

Answer 3

Cell Cycle Specific
Crystallize microtubules of mitotic spindle causing metaphase arrest, role in blocking DNA and preventing cell division in M phase

Question 4

Vinca Alkaloids (examples)

Answer 4

Vincristine (VCR, Oncovin)
Vinblastine (VLB, Velban)
Vinorelbine (Navelbine)

Question 5

Epipodophyllotoxins

Answer 5

Cell Cycle Specific

Damage the cell prior to mitosis, late S and G2 phase; inhibit topoisomerase II

Question 6

Epipodophyllotoxins (examples)

Answer 6

Etoposide (VP-16, Vepesid)

Teniposide (VM-26, Vumon)

Question 7

Taxanes

Answer 7

Cell Cycle Specific
Promote early microtubule assembly. Prevent depolymerization, causing cell death; enhance microtubule assembly and inhibit tubulin depolymerization, thus arresting cell division in metaphase.

Question 8

Taxanes (examples)

Answer 8

Paclitaxel (Taxol)
Docetaxel (Taxotere)
Paclitaxel protein bound

Question 9

Epothilones

Answer 9

Cell Cycle Specific

Naturally occuring microstabilizing agents similar to taxanes. Bind tubulin and cause apoptotic cell death.

Question 10

Epothilones (examples)

Answer 10

Ixabepilone

Investigational: Patupilone

Question 11

Camptothecins

Answer 11

Cell Cycle Specific

Act in S phase to inhibit topoisomerase I and cause cell death

Question 12

Camptothecins (examples)

Answer 12

Topotecan (Hycamtin)

Irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar)

Question 13

Miscellaneous Cell Cycle Specific

Answer 13

G1 Phase: L-asparaginase (ELSPAR), prednisone

G2 Phase: Bleomycin (Bleo, Blenoxane)

Question 14

Alkylating Agents

Answer 14

Cell Cycle Non Specific
Substitute alkyl group for H+ ion causing single-and double-strand breaks in DNA, as well as crosslinkages. thus DNA strands are unable to separate during DNA replication

Question 15

Alklylating Agents (examples)

Answer 15

Bendamustine (Treanda), busulfan (Myleran/Busulfex)
Carboplatin (paraplatin), *carmustine (BiCNU, BCNU)
Chlorambucil (Leukeran)
Cisplatin (CDDP, Platinol)
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, CTX, Neosar)
Dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome, imidazole)
Estramustine Phosphate (Estracyte, Emcyt)
Oxaliplatin (Elogcatin, Eloxatin)
Ifosfamide (IFEX)
*Lomustine (CCNU)
Mechlorethamine hydrochloride (nitrogen mustard, mustargen, HN2)
Melphalan (Alkeran, 1-PAM, phenylalanine mustard)
*Streptozocin (Streptozotocin, Zanosar)
Thiotepa (triethylene thiophosphoramide TSPA)

Question 16

Antibiotics

Answer 16

Cell Cycle Non Specific
Use a variety of mechanisms to prevent cell division and death (DNA strand breakage, intercalation of base pairs, inhibition of RNA and DNA Synthesis)

Question 17

Antibiotics (examples)

Answer 17

Dactinomycin (actinomycin D, Cosmegan)
Daunorubicin hydrochloride (daunomycin, cerubidine)
Doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adria, adriamycin)
Epirubicin HCl (Ellenee)
Idarubicin (Idamycin)
Mithramycin (Mithramycin, plicamycin)
Mitomycin C (mito, mutamycin)
Mitoxantrone (Novantrone)