Oncology Agents
Chemotherapy drugs and targeted cancer therapies
5-Fluorouracil
5-Fluorouracil
Use:
Colorectal, breast, gastric, pancreatic cancers; actinic keratosis
Mechanism:
Inhibits thymidylate synthase, incorporates into RNA/DNA
Bendamustine
Bendamustine
Use:
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Mechanism:
Bifunctional alkylating agent with purine analog properties
Capecitabine
Capecitabine
Use:
Colorectal, breast cancer
Mechanism:
Oral prodrug of 5-FU; converted to active form preferentially in tumor tissue
Carboplatin
Carboplatin
Use:
Ovarian, lung, head/neck cancers
Mechanism:
Forms platinum-DNA crosslinks, inhibiting DNA synthesis
Cyclophosphamide
Cyclophosphamide
Use:
Various cancers, autoimmune diseases
Mechanism:
Cross-links DNA strands, preventing cell division (prodrug requires hepatic activation)
Gemcitabine
Gemcitabine
Use:
Pancreatic, lung, breast, ovarian, bladder cancers
Mechanism:
Inhibits ribonucleotide reductase and incorporates into DNA
Methotrexate
Methotrexate
Use:
Cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ectopic pregnancy
Mechanism:
Inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, preventing DNA synthesis
Mycophenolate
Mycophenolate Mofetil
Use:
Organ transplant rejection prophylaxis
Mechanism:
Inhibits inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, blocking purine synthesis in lymphocytes
Oxaliplatin
Oxaliplatin
Use:
Colorectal cancer
Mechanism:
Forms platinum-DNA crosslinks, inhibiting DNA synthesis and replication
Pemetrexed
Pemetrexed
Use:
Non-squamous NSCLC, mesothelioma
Mechanism:
Inhibits multiple folate-dependent enzymes (thymidylate synthase, DHFR, GARFT)
Temozolomide
Temozolomide
Use:
Glioblastoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, metastatic melanoma
Mechanism:
Methylates DNA at O6 and N7 positions of guanine, causing DNA damage
Medical Disclaimer
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