Question

Please name five of the major groups of antineoplastic agents and give a detailed description of each, including at least one example of a specific medication in each group. Please include both the generic and trade name, along with mechanism of action (what does it do within the body), side effects and interactions.

Answer 1

Major groups of antineoplastic agents:

Nucleoside Analogues- eg:Azacitidine- Indication:Acute and chronic myeloid leukemia, MOA: Inhibition of DNA methyltransferase and incorporates RNA thus inhibiting genetic expression, Toxicity: Kidney failure, Hypokalemia, Acidosis[renal tubular]

Antifolates- eg:Methotrexate- Indication:Bladder, breast, head and neck cancer, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, systemic sclerosis, MOA: Inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase, Toxicity: pulmonary, hepato, neuro toxicity, kidney failure, skin and bone necrosis.

Antimetabolites- eg:Hydroxycarbamide- Indication:leukemia, thrombocytosis, polycythemia, sickle cell anemia, MOA: Inhibition of DNA synthesis by inhibiting ribonucleotide reductase, Toxicity: Skin cancer, edema, hallucinations, seizuresand pulmonary toxicity.

Topoisomerase inhibitor- eg:Topotecan- Indication:Small cell lung cancer, ovarian and cervical cancer, MOA: Inhibition of Topoisomerase I, Toxicity: Diarrhoea, myelosuppression, bradycardia, ileus and colitis.

Vinca alkaloids- eg:Vinblastine- Indication:Bladder cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, Non-small cell lung cancer, thrombocytopenia and germ cell tumours, MOA: Inhibition of assembling microtubule and arresting cells in M phase, Toxicity: Neurotoxicity, myocardial ischemia and infarction,myelosuppression.