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Chemotherapy has become a household term referring to anti-cancer treatment. In the broad sense, most chemotherapeutic drugs work by impairing mitosis (cell division), effectively targeting fast-dividing cells. As these drugs cause damage to cells they are termed cytotoxic. Some drugs cause cells to undergo apoptosis (so-called "programmed cell death").The first chemotherapeutic agent used for treatment of Cancer was, ironically, a WMD (Weapon of mass destruction), Mustard gas when its cytotoxic capabilities were noticed during World War 2.
The earlier agents used in chemotherapy were not selectively lethal to cancer cells and harmed many normally dividing cells like hair follicles and skin. But in recent times, scientists have produced novel drugs Targeted at specific molecules within cell cycles. This results in much less collateral damage to normal cells. Below is an interactive flash presentation (originally from newscientist.com) which explains the uses and mechanism of action of ten such therapies.
You can click on the left hand menu to visualize the exact intracellular mechanism of the drug.
Easy to create, easy to remember and fun to learn.
The earlier agents used in chemotherapy were not selectively lethal to cancer cells and harmed many normally dividing cells like hair follicles and skin. But in recent times, scientists have produced novel drugs Targeted at specific molecules within cell cycles. This results in much less collateral damage to normal cells. Below is an interactive flash presentation (originally from newscientist.com) which explains the uses and mechanism of action of ten such therapies.
You can click on the left hand menu to visualize the exact intracellular mechanism of the drug.
Easy to create, easy to remember and fun to learn.
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