Cancer and Cell Cycle Kinetics

Uncontrolled cell growth and division, invading surrounding tissues and potentially spreading to other parts of the body

Anticancer drugs that target cells actively dividing in a specific stage of the cell cycle.

Anticancer drugs that target both dividing and resting tumor cells.

A class of anticancer drugs that interfere with the synthesis of essential molecules required for DNA replication and metabolic function within cells.

An antimetabolite drug that inhibits thymidylate synthase, blocking DNA synthesis, primarily acting in S phase.

An antifolate drug that inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, an enzyme crucial for DNA synthesis.

The part of the cell cycle where DNA replication occurs.

Commonly used in treating colorectal, GI, breast, and neck cancers.

Effective against some cancers like acute lymphocytic leukemia, choriocarcinoma, breast cancer, and head and neck carcinomas, and certain inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Also abortive in ectopic pregnancy.

Common side effects include bone marrow suppression and toxic effects on skin and gastrointestinal mucosa (mucositis). Long-term use may cause hepatotoxicity and pulmonary problems.

Plant-derived cancer chemotherapy drugs targeting specific phases of the cell cycle.

Blocks mitotic spindle formation by halting tubulin dimer assembly into microtubules, disrupting mitosis, leading to cell death.

Used in acute lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Wilms' tumor, and neuroblastoma.

Usually does not cause severe bone marrow suppression, but can lead to neurotoxicity, potentially causing areflexia, peripheral neuritis, and paralytic ileus.

Causes DNA scission through oxidative processes; a DNA-bleomycin-iron complex undergoes oxidation, leading to DNA damage.

Part of treatment regimens for Hodgkin's lymphoma and testicular cancer.

Cancer cells may be resistant to fluorouracil because they have a decreased ability to phosphorylate pyrimidines, leading to reduced drug effectiveness.

Leucovorin is given to counteract methotrexate toxicity by providing a substitute for the folate needed.

Doxorubicin intercalates between DNA strands, hindering topoisomerase II, thus disrupting DNA function, and causing cell death.

Colon cancer that returns after treatment. It might be due to resistance to fluorouracil.

A type of blood cancer, where abnormal white blood cells grow uncontrollably.

Bleomycin is used to treat lymphomas and squamous cell carcinomas.

Bleomycin can cause pulmonary problems (pneumonitis, fibrosis), hypersensitivity reactions (chills, fever), and mucocutaneous reactions (hair loss, blisters).

Drugs that target cells actively dividing (cycling).

Drugs targeting both dividing and resting cells.

5-Fluorouracil blocks thymidylate synthase, affecting DNA and RNA synthesis.

Methotrexate stops the creation of purine nucleotides by inhibiting DHFR.

Vincristine disrupts microtubule formation, hindering cell division.

Methotrexate is an example of an antimetabolite drug.

Trastuzumab targets the extracellular domain of HER2, a protein involved in cell growth.

Trastuzumab triggers an immune response to internalize and reduce HER2, slowing cell growth.

Doxorubicin creates oxygen free radicals that damage DNA, inhibiting an enzyme (topoisomerase 2).

Tamoxifen blocks estrogen from binding to receptors in breast cells, thus preventing growth.

Drugs targeting growth factor receptors on cells, for example, EGFR or VEGFR.

Doxorubicin treats various cancers (lymphomas, myelomas, breast, lung, ovarian, thyroid), and some leukemias.

Tamoxifen treats breast cancers, particularly those that have spread or early-stage cancers.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) treatments are targeted at different stages of the disease.