Classification of Anti-Cancer Drug (3)

Classification of Anti-Cancer Drugs

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  • Cancer is a serious disease where cells grow and divide uncontrollably. To treat it, doctors use many types of drugs. Some kill cancer cells directly. Others block the signals that help cancer grow. These include targeted drugs and hormonal drugs.
  • These medicines are different from regular chemotherapy. They are more precise and often have fewer side effects. Let’s explore classification of Anti-cancer Drugs, examples, and specific uses.

What Are Targeted Anti-Cancer Drugs?

Targeted drugs act on specific parts of cancer cells. These drugs block the signals that cancer cells use to grow or divide. They don’t harm most normal cells. This makes them safer than traditional chemotherapy, here’s the classification of anticancer drugs for Targeted Anti-Cancer Drugs :

Tyrosine Protein Kinase Inhibitors

These drugs block a protein that helps cancer cells grow.

  • Imatinib: Used in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
  • Nilotinib: Used in cases of CML that don’t respond to imatinib

EGF Receptor Inhibitors

These drugs block the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR helps cells grow.

  • Gefitinib: Used in non-small cell lung cancer
  • Erlotinib: Also for lung and pancreatic cancers
  • Cetuximab: Used in colorectal cancer

Angiogenesis Inhibitors

Cancer cells need blood to grow. These drugs stop new blood vessels from forming.

  • Sunitinib: Used in kidney cancer and GIST
  • Bevacizumab: Treats colon, lung, and kidney cancers

Proteasome Inhibitors

These stop cells from breaking down damaged proteins. Cancer cells die when waste builds up.

  • Bortezomib: Used for multiple myeloma

Monoclonal Antibodies

These are lab-made antibodies that target cancer cells.

  • Rituximab: Used in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and some leukemias

What Are Hormonal Anti-Cancer Drugs?

Some cancers grow due to hormones like estrogen or testosterone. Hormonal drugs block or lower these hormones. They are mainly used in breast, prostate, and uterine cancers.

Glucocorticoids

These steroids reduce inflammation and kill certain cancer cells.

  • Prednisolone: Used in blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma

SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators)

These block estrogen from reaching its receptor.

  • Tamoxifen: Used in estrogen-positive breast cancer
  • Toremifene: Used in advanced breast cancer

Aromatase Inhibitors

These stop the body from making estrogen.

  • Letrozole, Anastrozole, Exemestane: Used in postmenopausal women with breast cancer

5α-Reductase Inhibitors

These lower levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a form of testosterone.

  • Finasteride, Dutasteride: Used in prostate cancer

Progestins

These help stop cancer cell growth in the uterus and breast.

  • Hydroxyprogesterone acetate and others

Estrogens

These are rarely used but may help in prostate cancer.

  • Ethinyl estradiol, Fosfestrol

SER Downregulator

These destroy estrogen receptors completely.

  • Fulvestrant: Used in advanced breast cancer

Antiandrogens

These block male hormones like testosterone.

  • Flutamide, Bicalutamide: Used in prostate cancer

GnRH Analogues

These lower hormone levels over time.

  • Nafarelin, Leuprolide, Triptorelin: Used in prostate and breast cancers

Common Uses of Targeted and Hormonal Drugs (with Examples)

Here’s a quick overview of what drugs are used for which conditions:

Drug NameCancer Treated
ImatinibChronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
NilotinibImatinib-resistant CML
Gefitinib / ErlotinibNon-small cell lung cancer
CetuximabColorectal cancer
BevacizumabKidney, colon, lung cancer
BortezomibMultiple myeloma
RituximabNon-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Tamoxifen / LetrozoleHormone-positive breast cancer
FulvestrantAdvanced breast cancer
Flutamide / LeuprolideProstate cancer
HydroxyprogesteroneEndometrial and breast cancer

Emerging Therapies in Cancer Treatment

Cancer treatment is evolving rapidly. Researchers are working on new therapies that offer better results and fewer side effects.

CAR-T Cell Therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Therapy)

This is a type of immunotherapy.

  • T-cells from the patient are collected.
  • They are modified to attack cancer cells.
  • These modified cells are then infused back into the patient.

Approved for: Certain leukemias and lymphomas
Key Drugs/Examples: Tisagenlecleucel, Axicabtagene ciloleucel

Checkpoint Inhibitors

Cancer cells sometimes hide from the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitors remove these “brakes” from immune cells.

Common targets:

  • PD-1
  • PD-L1
  • CTLA-4

Examples:

  • Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab (PD-1 inhibitors)
  • Atezolizumab (PD-L1 inhibitor)
  • Ipilimumab (CTLA-4 inhibitor)

Used in: Melanoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer

PARP Inhibitors

These drugs block the PARP enzyme, which cancer cells use to repair their DNA.

Examples:

  • Olaparib
  • Rucaparib

Used in: Ovarian, breast, and prostate cancers, especially in BRCA-mutated patients

mTOR Inhibitors

These target the mTOR pathway, which helps cancer cells grow and survive.

Examples:

  • Everolimus
  • Temsirolimus

Used in: Renal cell carcinoma, breast cancer, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Cancer Vaccines

Unlike regular vaccines, these help treat existing cancer. They teach the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

Example:

  • Sipuleucel-T: Used in metastatic prostate cancer

Gene Therapy and CRISPR

Gene editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9 are being explored to fix genetic mutations in cancer.

  • Still in early stages.
  • Potential to cure cancer at the genetic level.
  • Ethical concerns and delivery issues still under study.

Nanoparticle Drug Delivery

Nanoparticles help deliver drugs directly to cancer cells.

  • Reduces damage to healthy tissue.
  • Improves drug stability and effectiveness.
  • Used in liposomal formulations (e.g., Doxil – liposomal doxorubicin).

Bispecific Antibodies

These antibodies can bind two different targets at the same time.

  • One arm binds to cancer cells.
  • The other arm binds to immune cells.
  • Helps immune cells kill cancer more efficiently.

Example:

  • Blinatumomab: Used in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Reference

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