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Chemotherapy. Although, an ideal anticancer medication that is destroying cancer cell without damaging healthy cells, no such medication exist. Despite the narrow margin between harm and benefit, however, many patients, who have cancer, may be treated with chemotherapy(anticancer drugs) and some may be cured. Recently, chemotherapy side effects may be minimized. Anticancer drugs are classified into few categories: biologic response modifiers, alkylating agents hormones, antimetabolites, enzymes, antitumor antibiotics, and plant alkaloids. Frequently, 2 or more drugs are taken in combination. The goal to combine chemotherapy is to take drugs that are working at cells metabolic processes different parts, thereby increasing the likelihood that more cancers cells will be destroyed. Additionally, the chemotherapy's toxic side effects can be lowered. When medications with different toxicilites are combined, each at lower dosage than would be required if 1 drug being used alone. At last, drug with too different properties may be combined. For instance, drug that is killing tumor cell, can be combined with drug that is stimulating the immune system of the person's body against cancers(called biologic response modifiers). Mustard gas, used in world war 1 as a weapon, is alkylating agent example. Alkylating agent is interfering with DNA molecule, altering its function or structure so it may not replicate, which after that is preventing the cells from multiplying. The difference between a harmful dose and beneficial dose is small. Side effects such as increased leukemia risk; nausea; low sperm amount in males; hair loss; low platelet, red blood cell and white blood cell level change; vomiting; and cystitis may occur. Broad drug group called Antimetabolites are interfering with steps of RNA or DNA synthesis, preventing replication of cell. Besides resulting in the similar side effects as alkylating agents, specific antimetabolites result in kidney failure, skin darkening, and skin rash. Plant alkaloids are drugs that may stop division of cell as it occur, preventing the new cells formation. Side effects are the same as alkylating agents. Antitumor antibiotics also damage DNA, preventing replication of cells. Side effects are the same as alkylating agents. A patient who has acute lymphoblastic leukemia, can be given an enzyme called asparaginase that is depleting amino acid asparagine blood, which the lymphoblastic leukemia requires for growth continuation. Side effects may include high sugar level in blood, life-threatening allergic reaction, fever, vomiting, nausea, and appetite loss. Hormone therapy is lowering or raising specific hormones levels to limit cancer growth that either depend on such hormones or are inhibited by them. Foe example, certain breast cancers require estrogen to grow. Tamoxifen-antiestrogen drug is blocking the estrogen effects and can shrink the cancers. Similarly, prostate cancers can be inhibited by antitestosterone drugs or estrogen. Side effects are varying, basing on the hormone used. Giving estrogen to male can cause feminizing effects including breast enlargement. Giving antiestrogen drug to a females can result in irregular menstrual periods and flashes. The effective biologic response modifier called Interferon, is commonly used to treat multiple myeloma and Kaposi's sarcoma. Another immunotherapy type is using lymphokine-activated killer cells(immuno-stimulated cells) to directly attack tumors, including kidney cell cancer and melanoma. A treatment that using antibody to a tumors cells, which are labeled with either a toxins or radioactive materials, has showed effectiveness in treating certain lymphomas.
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