The antineoplastic agents or anticancer drugs represent a large and diverse class of medications.
Cancer is a disease characterised by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division attacking the surrounding tissues and organs, and also the distant body parts by circulation with blood and lymph.
Antineoplastic or anti-cancer drugs are used for treating malignancies or cancerous growth. Either these drugs are used alone (chemotherapy) or in combination with surgery or radiation therapy.
The antineoplastic agents are not easily classified. Historically, they are categorized as (1) alkylating agents, (2) antimetabolites, (3) natural products, (4) hormones and antagonists, and (5) miscellaneous, (6) radioactive isotopes.
Recent Developments;
The current for drug development involve drugs with novel modes of action, monoclonal antibodies directed against specific cellular target, drugs modulation or reversing drugs resistance, and drugs used for providing supportive care to the cancer patients.
Increasing the cytotoxic chemotherapy resulted in significant tumor regression and also improved the control of cancer. The development and acceptance of combination chemotherapy improved the outcome for incurable neoplastic diseases. This newer approach to cancer treatment included the theoretical point that targeting multiple biochemical processes produces a greater overall effect on tumor regression and remission.
