This article needs to be updated.(January 2021) |
This is a list of antineoplastic agents used to treat cancer.
Antineoplastic agents | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
INN | Route [1] | Mechanism of action [1] [2] [3] [4] | Indications [1] [2] [4] | Major toxicities [1] [2] [4] [5] |
1. Cytotoxic antineoplastics | ||||
1.01 Nucleoside analogues | ||||
Azacitidine | SC, IV | DNA methyltransferase inhibitor and incorporates itself into RNA, hence inhibiting gene expression. [6] | Myelodysplastic syndromes, acute myeloid leukaemia and chronic myeloid leukaemia | Myelosuppression, kidney failure (uncommon/rare), renal tubular acidosis and hypokalaemia. |
Capecitabine | PO | Fluorouracilprodrug | Breast, colorectal, gastric and oesophageal cancer | Myelosuppression, cardiotoxicity, hypertriglyceridaemia, GI haemorrhage (uncommon), cerebellar syndrome (uncommon), encephalopathy (uncommon) and diarrhoea. |
Carmofur | PO | Fluorouracil prodrug | Colorectal, breast and ovarian cancer | Myelosuppression, neurotoxicity and diarrhoea. |
Cladribine | SC, IV | DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, metabolites incorporate themselves into DNA. [7] [8] [9] [10] | Hairy cell leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia | Myelosuppression, haemolytic anaemia (uncommon), neurotoxicity (rare), renal impairment (rare), pulmonary interstitial infiltrates (rare), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare). |
Clofarabine | IV | Ribonucleotide reductase and DNA polymerase inhibitor. [11] | Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia | Myelosuppression, hypokalaemia, cytokine release syndrome, Stevens–Johnson syndrome (uncommon), toxic epidermal necrolysis (uncommon) and pancreatitis (uncommon) |
Cytarabine | SC, IM, IV, IT | DNA polymerase inhibitor, S-phase specific. Incorporates its metabolites into DNA. | Acute myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, lymphomas, progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy and meningeal leukaemia | Myelosuppression, GI bleeds, pancreatitis (uncommon/rare), anaphylaxis (uncommon/rare), pericarditis (uncommon/rare) and conjunctivitis (uncommon/rare). High dose: cerebral and cerebellar dysfunction, ocular toxicity, pulmonary toxicity, severe GI ulceration and peripheral neuropathy (rare). |
Decitabine | IV | DNA methyltransferase inhibitor. | Myelodysplastic syndrome, sickle cell anaemia (orphan), acute myeloid leukaemia and chronic myeloid leukaemia. | Myelosuppression, hyperglycaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, hypomagnesaemia, hypokalaemia, hyperkalaemia and thrombocythaemia. |
Floxuridine | IA | Fluorouracil analogue. | Metastatic GI adenocarcinoma and stomach cancer | Myelosuppression. |
Fludarabine | PO, IV | DNA polymerase and ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor. | Acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Waldenstrom macroglobulinaemia. | Myelosuppression, hyperglycaemia, GI bleeds (uncommon), pneumonitis (uncommon), haemolytic anaemia (uncommon), severe neurotoxicity (rare), haemorrhagic cystitis (rare), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare). |
Fluorouracil | IV, Topical | Thymidylate synthase inhibitor. | Anal, breast, colorectal, gastric, head and neck, oesophageal and pancreatic cancer. Bowen's disease and actinic keratoses. | Myelosuppression, diarrhoea, cardiotoxicity, GI ulceration and bleeding (uncommon), cerebellar syndrome (uncommon), encephalopathy (uncommon) and anaphylaxis (rare). |
Gemcitabine | IV | DNA synthesis inhibitor, induces apoptosis specifically in S-phase. | Bladder, breast, nasopharyngeal, non-small cell lung, ovarian and pancreatic cancer, lymphomas and inflammatory bowel disease. | Myelosuppression, pulmonary toxicity, kidney failure (rare), haemolytic uraemic syndrome (rare), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (rare), anaphylactoid reaction (rare), reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome (rare), myocardial infarction (rare) and heart failure (rare). |
Mercaptopurine | PO | Purine synthesis inhibitor. | Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute promyelocytic leukaemia, lymphoblastic lymphoma and inflammatory bowel disease. [12] | Myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity, GI ulceration (rare), pancreatitis (rare) and secondary leukaemia (rare) or myelodysplasia (rare). |
Nelarabine [13] | IV | Purine synthesis inhibitor. | Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. | Myelosuppression, pleural effusion, seizures, tumour lysis syndrome and a condition similar to Guillain-Barré syndrome. |
Pentostatin | IV | Adenosine deaminase inhibitor. | Hairy cell leukaemia, peripheral T-cell lymphoma (orphan), cutaneous T cell lymphoma (orphan) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (orphan). | Myelosuppression, neurotoxicity, immune hypersensitivity, hyponatraemia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and microangiopathic hemolytic anaemia. |
Tegafur | PO | Thymidylate synthase inhibitor. | Breast, colorectal cancer, gallbladder, gastrointestinal tract, head and neck, liver and pancreas cancer. | Myelosuppression, diarrhoea, neurotoxicity and hepatitis (rare). |
Tioguanine | PO | Purine synthesis inhibitor. | Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia | Myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity, peripheral neuropathy (uncommon), intestinal necrosis (rare) and perforation (rare). |
1.02 Antifolates | ||||
Methotrexate | SC, IM, IV, IT, PO | Dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor. | Bladder and breast cancer. squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck, gestational trophoblastic disease, acute leukaemias, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, osteosarcoma, brain tumours, graft-versus-host disease and systemic sclerosis. | Myelosuppression, pulmonary toxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity (high dose or intrathecal administration), anaphylactic reactions (rare), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare), Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (rare), kidney failure (rare), osteoporosis (rare), skin and bone necrosis (rare) and macrocytic anaemia (rare). |
Pemetrexed | IV | Dihydrofolate reductase, thymidylate synthase and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase inhibitors. | Malignant mesothelioma and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. | Myelosuppression, renal impairment, peripheral neuropathy, supraventricular tachycardia (uncommon), hepatitis (rare), colitis (rare), pneumonitis (rare), radiation recall (rare), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare). |
Pralatrexate | IV | Dihydrofolate reductase, thymidylate synthase and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase inhibitors. | Peripheral T cell lymphomas | Febrile neutropenia (uncommon) renal failure (uncommon), peripheral neuropathy (uncommon), hepatotoxicity (rare) [14] |
Raltitrexed | IV | Dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase inhibitor. | Colorectal cancer | Myelosuppression |
Trimetrexate | IV | Dihydrofolate reductase, thymidylate synthase and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase inhibitors. | Pneumocystis jirovecii | Neutropenia, febrile neutropenia (uncommon), renal failure (uncommon) peripheral neuropathy (uncommon) [15] |
1.03 Other antimetabolites | ||||
Hydroxycarbamide | PO | Inhibits DNA synthesis by inhibiting the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. | Chronic myeloid leukaemia, essential thrombocytosis, polycythaemia vera, myelofibrosis, acute myeloid leukaemia and sickle cell anaemia | Myelosuppression, skin cancer (rare), oedema (rare), hallucinations (rare), seizures (rare) and pulmonary toxicity (rare). |
1.04 Topoisomerase I inhibitor | ||||
Irinotecan | IV | Inhibits topoisomerase I. | Colorectal cancer | Diarrhoea, myelosuppression, pulmonary infiltrates (uncommon), bradycardia (uncommon), ileus (rare) and colitis (rare). |
Topotecan | IV | Inhibits topoisomerase I. | Small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer | Diarrhoea, myelosuppression, interstitial lung disease and allergy. |
1.05 Anthracyclines | ||||
Daunorubicin | IV | Inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis by intercalating DNA base pairs. Inhibits DNA repair by inhibiting topoisomerase II. | Acute leukaemias | Myelosuppression, cardiotoxicity, anaphylaxis (rare), secondary malignancies (particularly acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome) and radiation recall. |
Doxorubicin | IV | As above. | Breast cancer, lymphomas, sarcomas, bladder cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Wilms' tumour, AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, neuroblastoma and multiple myeloma | As above. |
Epirubicin | IV | As above. | Breast cancer, gastric cancer and bladder cancer | As above. |
Idarubicin | IV, PO | As above. | Acute leukaemias. | As above. |
Mitoxantrone | IV | As above. | Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute myeloid leukaemia, prostate cancer and multiple sclerosis | As above. |
Valrubicin | IV | As above. | Bladder cancer. | As above. |
1.06 Podophyllotoxins | ||||
Etoposide | IV, PO | Topoisomerase II inhibitor. | Testicular cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, acute myeloid leukaemia, lymphomas and sarcomas | Myelosuppression, hypersensitivity reactions, Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare), peripheral neuropathy (uncommon) and secondary malignancies (especially acute myeloid leukaemia). |
Teniposide | IV | Topoisomerase II inhibitor. | Lymphomas, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and neuroblastoma | As above. |
1.07 Taxanes | ||||
Cabazitaxel | IV | Microtubule disassembly inhibitor. Arrests cells in late G2 phase and M phase. | Prostate cancer | Myelosuppression, diarrhoea, kidney failure, hypersensitivity, severe GI reactions (including perforation, ileus, colitis, etc.; all rare) and peripheral neuropathy |
Docetaxel | IV | As above. | Breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell head and neck cancer and gastric cancer. | Myelosuppression, peripheral neuropathy, hypersensitivity, fluid retention, heart failure (uncommon), pulmonary toxicity (rare), radiation recall (rare), scleroderma-like skin changes (rare), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare), toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare), seizures (rare) and encephalopathy (rare) |
Paclitaxel | IV | As above. | Ovarian cancer, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, cervical cancer, germ cell cancer and endometrial cancer | Hypersensitivity, myelosuppression, peripheral neuropathy, myocardial infarction (uncommon), arrhythmias (uncommon), pulmonary toxicity (rare), radiation recall (rare), scleroderma-like skin changes (rare), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare), toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare), seizures (rare) and encephalopathy (rare). |
1.08 Vinca alkaloids | ||||
Vinblastine | IV | Microtubule assembly inhibitor. Arrests cells in M phase. | Hodgkin lymphoma, germ cell tumours, non-small cell lung cancer, bladder cancer and primary immune thrombocytopenia | Neurotoxicity, myelosuppression, myocardial ischaemia (rare) and myocardial infarction (rare). |
Vincristine | IV | As above. | Lymphomas, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, multiple myeloma, sarcoma, brain tumours, Wilms' tumour, neuroblastoma and primary immune thrombocytopenia | Neurotoxicity, anaphylaxis (rare), myocardial ischaemia (rare) and myocardial infarction (rare). |
Vindesine | IV | As above. | Refractory metastatic melanoma, childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia in blast crises, neuroblastoma, non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer. | Myelosuppression, neurotoxicity and paralytic ileus. |
Vinflunine | IV | As above. | Bladder cancer | As per vinblastine. |
Vinorelbine | IV | As above. | Breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. | As above. |
1.09 Alkylating agents | ||||
Altretamine | PO | Alkylates DNA. | Recurrent or advanced ovarian cancer | Myelosuppression, peripheral neuropathy, seizures and hepatotoxicity (rare). |
Bendamustine | IV | Alkylates DNA. | Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, mantle cell lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. | Myelosuppression, hypokalaemia and tachycardia. |
Busulfan | IV, PO | Alkylates DNA. | Conditioning treatment before haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (high dose, IV), chronic myeloid leukaemia, myelofibrosis, polycythaemia vera and essential thrombocytosis | Myelosuppression, seizures (high dose), tachycardia (high dose), hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (high dose), Addison-like syndrome (rare), pulmonary fibrosis (rare), cataracts (rare) and hepatitis (rare). Secondary malignancies. [1] [16] |
Carmustine | IV | Alkylates DNA. | Anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme and mycosis fungoides (topical) | Myelosuppression, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary infiltrates, seizure, brain oedema, cerebrospinal leaks, subdural fluid collection, intracranial infection, hypotension (uncommon), tachycardia (uncommon), decrease in kidney size (reversible), uraemia (uncommon), kidney failure (uncommon), severe hepatic toxicity (rare), thrombosis (rare) and neuroretinitis (rare). Secondary malignancies. [1] [16] |
Chlorambucil | IV | Alkylates DNA. | Lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia | Myelosuppression, hallucinations (rare), seizures (rare), sterile cystitis (rare), hepatotoxicity (rare), severe pneumonitis (rare), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare), toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare) and drug fever (rare). Secondary malignancies. [1] [16] |
Chlormethine | IV, topical | Alkylates DNA. | Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, metastatic carcinoma, leukaemias, lymphomas, polycythemia vera and bronchogenic carcinoma | Thrombosis, myelosuppression (common), hyperuricaemia, erythema multiforme, haemolytic anaemia, nausea and vomiting (severe) and secondary malignancies. [16] |
Cyclophosphamide | IV | Alkylates DNA. | Breast cancer, lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, sarcoma, multiple myeloma, Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia, systemic lupus erythematosus, glomerulonephritis, systemic vasculitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis | Myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting (>30%), haemorrhagic cystitis, heart failure (rare), pulmonary fibrosis (rare), hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (rare), water retention resembling SIADH (rare) and seizures (rare). Secondary malignancies. [16] |
Dacarbazine | IV | Alkylates DNA. | Hodgkin lymphoma, metastatic malignant melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma | Myelosuppression, agranulocytosis (uncommon), hepatic vein thrombosis (rare) and hepatocellular necrosis (rare). Secondary malignancies. [16] |
Fotemustine | IV | Alkylates DNA. | Metastatic malignant melanoma. | Myelosuppression. |
Ifosfamide | IV | Alkylates DNA. | Sarcomas, testicular cancer and lymphomas. | Myelosuppression, haemorrhagic cystitis, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity and cardiac toxicity (rare). Secondary malignancies. [16] |
Lomustine | PO | Alkylates DNA. | Glioma and medulloblastoma. | Myelosuppression, pulmonary infiltration and fibrosis. Secondary malignancies. [16] |
Lurbinectedin | IV | Alkylates DNA. | Metastatic small cell lung cancer. | Hepatotoxicity [17] |
Mechlorethamine | IV, intra pleural, intra pericardial, topical | Alkylates DNA. | Hodgkin disease, chronic leukimia, lung cancer, polycythemia vera, T-cell lymphoma, mycosia fungoides | Hepatotoxicity (rare) [18] |
Melphalan | IV, PO | Alkylates DNA. | Malignant melanoma of the extremities, multiple myeloma, conditioning treatment before haemopoietic stem cell transplant. | Myelosuppression, pulmonary fibrosis and pneumonitis (uncommon), skin necrosis (uncommon), anaphylaxis, hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome and SIADH. Secondary malignancies. [16] |
Streptozotocin | IV, PO | Alkylates DNA. | Pancreatic cancer and carcinoid syndrome. | Nephrotoxicity, hypoglycaemia, myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting (>90%), jaundice and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (rare). |
Temozolomide | PO | Alkylates DNA. | Anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme, metastatic malignant melanoma | Myelosuppression, Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare), pneumonitis (rare) and hepatitis (rare). |
Thiotepa | IV, topical | Alkylates DNA. | Breast, ovarian, and baldder cancer | Myelosupression, embryo-fetal toxicity, hepatotoxicity (rare) [19] |
Trabectedin | IV | Alkylates DNA. | Advanced liposarcoma and leimyosarcoma | Bone marrow suppression, rhabdomyolysis, embryo-fetal toxicity, capillary leak syndrome, hepatotoxicity [20] |
1.10 Platinum compounds | ||||
Carboplatin | IV | Reacts with DNA, inducing apoptosis, non-cell cycle specific. | Ovarian cancer, lung cancer and squamous cell head and neck cancer | Myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting (30-90%), peripheral neuropathy, ototoxicity, anaphylaxis, acute kidney failure (rare), haemolytic uraemic syndrome (rare) and loss of vision (rare). |
Cisplatin | IV | Reacts with DNA, inducing apoptosis, non-cell cycle specific. | Germ cell tumours (including testicular cancer), ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, squamous cell head and neck cancer, oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer, bladder cancer and osteosarcoma | Nephrotoxicity, nausea and vomiting (30-100%), myelosuppression, electrolyte anomalies, peripheral neuropathy, ototoxicity and anaphylaxis, haemolytic anaemia (rare), optic neuritis (rare), reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome (rare), seizures (rare), ECG changes (rare) and heart failure (rare). |
Nedaplatin | IV | Reacts with DNA, inducing apoptosis, non-cell cycle specific. | Non-small cell lung cancer, oesophageal cancer, uterine cervical cancer, head and neck cancer and urothelial cancer | Nephrotoxicity, myelosuppression and nausea and vomiting (30-90%). |
Oxaliplatin | IV | Reacts with DNA, inducing apoptosis, non-cell cycle specific. | Colorectal cancer, oesophageal cancer and gastric cancer | Myelosuppression, peripheral neuropathy, anaphylaxis, nausea and vomiting (30-90%), hypokalaemia, metabolic acidosis, interstitial lung disease (uncommon), ototoxicity (rare), reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome (rare), immune-mediated cytopenias (rare) and hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (rare). |
1.11 Miscellaneous others | ||||
Altretamine | PO | Unclear, reactive intermediates covalently bind to microsomal proteins and DNA, possibly causing DNA damage | Recurrent ovarian cancer | Myelosuppression, peripheral neuropathy, seizures and hepatotoxicity (rare). |
Bleomycin | IM, SC, IA, IV or IP | Inhibits DNA and to a lesser extent RNA synthesis, produces single and double strand breaks in DNA possibly by free radical formation. | Germ cell tumours, squamous cell carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, non-Hodgkin's, pleural sclerosing and Hodgkin's lymphoma. | Pulmonary toxicity, hypersensitivity, scleroderma and Raynaud's phenomenon. |
Bortezomib | IV, SC | Proteasome inhibitor. | Multiple myeloma, mantle cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma (orphan). | Peripheral neuropathy, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, orthostatic hypotension, hepatitis (uncommon/rare), haemorrhage (uncommon/rare), heart failure (uncommon/rare), seizures (uncommon/rare), progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML) and hearing loss. |
Dactinomycin | IV | Complexes with DNA interfering with DNA-dependent RNA synthesis | Gestational trophoblastic disease, Wilms' tumour and rhabdomyosarcoma | Myelosuppression, anaphylaxis, radiation recall, hepatotoxicity and hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (common in Wilms' tumour). |
Estramustine | PO | Antimicrotubule and oestrogenic actions | Prostate cancer. | Cardiovascular complications, such as ischaemic heart disease, venous thromboembolism, congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular failure. |
Ixabepilone | IV | Promotes tubulin polymerisation and stabilises microtubular function, causing cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and subsequently induces apoptosis | Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. | Myelosuppression, peripheral neuropathy, myocardial ischaemia (uncommon/rare), supraventricular arrhythmia (uncommon/rare) and hypersensitivity reaction (uncommon/rare). |
Mitomycin | IV | Cross-links DNA | Anal, bladder, and upper tract urothelial cancers | Myelosuppression, pulmonary toxicity and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (rare). |
Plicamycin | IV | Blocks RNA synthesis | Testicular and germ cell cancers | Hepatotoxicity, Bone marrow suppression |
Procarbazine | IM, IV | Inhibits DNA, RNA and protein synthesis. | Glioma and Hodgkin's lymphoma. | Myelosuppression, neurotoxicity, pulmonary fibrosis (uncommon/rare), pneumonitis (uncommon/rare), haemolysis (uncommon/rare) and hepatic dysfunction (uncommon/rare). |
2. Targeted antineoplastics | ||||
2.1 Monoclonal antibodies | ||||
Alemtuzumab | IV | CD52 antibody induces apoptosis in the tagged cells. | Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia | Pancytopenia, pneumonitis, arrhythmias and hypersensitivity reactions (rare), autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (rare), autoimmune thrombocytopenia (rare) and progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (rare). |
Bevacizumab | IV | VEGF inhibitor. | Colorectal, breast, ovarian, renal cell and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer and glioblastoma | Hypertension, thromboembolisms, heart failure, bleeding, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, GI perforation, fistula formation, hypertensive encephalopathy, pulmonary hypertension, reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome, nasal septum perforation and osteonecrosis of the jaw. |
Cetuximab | IV | EGFR inhibitor. | Squamous cell head and neck cancer or EGFR-positive and KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. | Infusion-related reactions, skin reactions, hypomagnesaemia, hypocalcaemia, hypokalaemia, blood clots, interstitial lung disease and aseptic meningitis. |
Denosumab | SC | RANKL inhibitor. | Osteoporosis, including drug- and cancer-related osteoporosis, giant cell tumour of bone and hypercalcaemia of malignancies | Hypercholesterolaemia, cataract, urinary retention, hypocalcaemia, osteonecrosis of the jaw and anaphylaxis. |
Gemtuzumab ozogamicin | IV | CD33 antibody that induces apoptosis of the tagged cell. | Acute myeloid leukaemia | Hepatic veno-occlusive disease, myelosuppression, cytokine release syndrome, hypersensitivity and electrolyte anomalies. |
Ibritumomab tiuxetan | IV | CD20 antibody bound with the radioactive isotope, 90Y, induces radiation-dependent cell lysis. | Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. | Thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anaemia, hypotension and secondary malignancies. |
Ipilimumab | IV | CTLA4 antibody that causes immune system-mediated lysis of the tagged cell | Unresectable or metastatic malignant melanoma. | Life-threatening immune mediated reactions and fever. |
Nivolumab | IV | IgG4 antibody that functions as a checkpoint inhibitor, specifically inhibiting PD-1 | Melanoma, lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, renal cell carcinoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, head and neck cancer, urothelial carcinoma, colon cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, liver cancer, gastric cancer, and esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. | Fatigue, rash, musculoskeletal pain, itching, diarrhea, nausea, asthenia, cough, shortness of breath, constipation, decreased appetite, back pain, joint pain, upper respiratory tract infection, abnormal temperature increases, headache, abdominal pain, and vomiting. |
Ofatumumab | IV | Anti-CD20 antibody. | Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia | Neutropenia, pneumonia, infusion reactions, cytopenias |
Panitumumab | IV | EGFR inhibitor. | RAS (KRAS or NRAS) wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer | Skin reactions, electrolyte anomalies, anaphylaxis and angiooedema (rare). |
Pembrolizumab | IV | Anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. | Melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, and stomach cancer. | Fatigue, rash, itchiness (pruritus), diarrhea, nausea, joint pain (arthralgia). |
Pertuzumab | IV | HER2 inhibitor. | HER2-positive breast cancer. | Anaphylaxis, cardiac dysfunction and anaemia. |
Rituximab | IV | Anti-CD20 antibody. | CD20-positive B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis | Infusion-related reactions, neutropenia, arrhythmias, infection, thrombocytopenia (uncommon), anaemia (uncommon), angina (uncommon), myocardial infarction (uncommon), heart failure (uncommon), haemolytic anaemia (rare), aplastic anaemia (rare), serum sickness (rare), severe skin conditions (rare), pulmonary infiltrates (rare), pneumonitis (rare), cranial neuropathy (vision or hearing loss; rare) and progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (rare). |
Tositumomab | IV | Anti-CD20 antibody which is tagged with I131. | Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma | Grade 3-4 cytopenias, methaemoglobinaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, anaphylaxis and hyperthyroidism. |
Trastuzumab | IV | Anti-HER2 antibody. | HER2-positive breast cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer (orphan) and gastro-oesophageal junction cancer. | Cardiac dysfunction, infusion-related reactions, peripheral neuropathy and pulmonary toxicity (rare). |
2.2 Tyrosine kinase inhibitor | ||||
Afatinib | PO | EGFR, HER2 and HER4 inhibitor. | Non-small cell lung cancer. | Diarrhoea, hypokalaemia, interstitial lung disease and hepatotoxicity. |
Aflibercept | IV | VEGF and PGF inhibitor. | Colorectal cancer. | Myelosuppression, hypertension, dehydration, blood clots, GI perforation and reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome (uncommon). |
Axitinib | PO | Multikinase inhibitor. | Renal cell carcinoma | Hypertension, thyroid dysfunction, blood clots, electrolyte disturbances, GI perforation (rare), fistula formation (rare), reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome (rare) and polycythaemia (uncommon). |
Bosutinib | PO | Bcr-Abl and SRc kinase inhibitor. | Chronic myeloid leukaemia | Diarrhoea, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, hepatotoxicity, QT interval prolongation, kidney failure, pleural effusion, pericarditis (uncommon/rare), acute pancreatitis (uncommon/rare), GI haemorrhage (uncommon/rare), anaphylactic shock (uncommon/rare), acute pulmonary oedema (uncommon/rare), respiratory failure (uncommon/rare), pulmonary hypertension (uncommon/rare) and erythema multiforme (uncommon/rare). |
Crizotinib | PO | ALK, Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor (HGFR, c-Met), and Recepteur d'Origine Nantais (RON) inhibitor. | Non-small cell lung cancer | Lymphopenia, neutropenia, hypophosphataemia, hypokalaemia, peripheral neuropathy, blood clots, QT interval prolongation, bradycardia, pneumonia, pneumonitis, kidney cyst, ARDS and liver failure. |
Dasatinib | PO | BCR-ABL, SRC family, c-Kit, EPHA2 and PDGFR-β kinase inhibitor. | Philadelphia positive chronic myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. | Fluid retention, myelosuppression, haemorrhage, hypertension, electrolyte anomalies, cardiac dysfunction (rare), heart failure (rare), myocardial infarction, arrhythmia (rare), prolonged QT interval (rare), kidney failure (rare), hypersensitivity (rare) and hepatic failure (rare). |
Erlotinib | PO | EGFR inhibitor. | Non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. | Skin reactions, diarrhoea, GI bleeds, anaemia, dehydration, interstitial lung disease (uncommon), hepatic failure (rare), hepatorenal syndrome (rare), GI perforation (rare) and ulcerative keratitis (rare). |
Gefitinib | PO | EGFR inhibitor. | EGFR-mutation positive non-small cell lung cancer. | Skin reactions, diarrhoea, dehydration, haemorrhage, interstitial lung disease (uncommon), pancreatitis (uncommon), hepatitis (uncommon), allergy (uncommon), hepatic failure (rare), toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare) and Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare). |
Imatinib | PO | Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor. | Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, GI stromal tumour and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases. | Myelosuppression, fluid retention, GI bleeding, electrolyte anomalies, left ventricular dysfunction (uncommon), heart failure (uncommon), pulmonary oedema (uncommon), kidney failure (uncommon), angiooedema (rare), anaphylaxis (rare), GI perforation (rare), hepatotoxicity (rare), avascular necrosis (rare), myopathy (rare) and rhabdomyolysis (rare). |
Lapatinib | PO | HER2 inhibitor. | HER2-positive breast cancer, stomach cancer (orphan) and oesophageal cancer (orphan). | Diarrhoea, interstitial lung disease (uncommon), hepatotoxicity (uncommon) and anaphylaxis (rare). |
Nilotinib | PO | Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor. | Chronic myeloid leukaemia. | Myelosuppression, electrolyte disturbances, hyperglycaemia, prolonged QT interval (uncommon), peripheral arterial occlusive disease (uncommon), pancreatitis (uncommon), pleural effusion (uncommon) and pericardial effusion (uncommon). |
Pazopanib | PO | Multikinase inhibitor, including c-KIT, FGFR, PDGFR and VEGFR. | Renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. | Hypertension, QT interval prolongation, haemorrhage, blood clots, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone, hypothyroidism, electrolyte disturbances, hypo- or hyperglycaemia, torsades de pointes (uncommon), heart failure (uncommon), hepatic failure (uncommon), GI perforation (uncommon), fistula formation (uncommon) and reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome (rare). |
Ponatinib | PO | Multikinase inhibitor (BEGFR, PDGFR, FGFR, EPH receptors and SRC families of kinases, and KIT, RET, TIE2 and FLT3), that also inhibits T135I Bcr-Abl kinase. | T135I positive Chronic myeloid leukaemia and Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. | Hypertension, neutropenia, leucopenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, pleural effusion, heart failure, peripheral neuropathy, haemorrhage, blood clots, pancreatitis and infection. |
Regorafenib | PO | Multikinase inhibitor for RET, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, KIT, PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta, FGFR1, FGFR2, TIE2, DDR2, Trk2A, Eph2A, RAF-1, BRAF, BRAFV600E, SAPK2, PTK5, and Bcr-Abl. | Colorectal cancer and GI stromal tumours. | Anaemia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, electrolyte anomalies, hepatotoxicity, hypertension, hypothyroidism, neutropenia, myocardial ischaemia or infarction. |
Ruxolitinib | PO | JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor. | Myelofibrosis and pancreatic cancer (orphan). | Anaemia and thrombocytopenia. |
Sorafenib | PO | Multikinase inhibitor (including VEGF and PDGF receptor kinases). | Renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. | Hypertension, skin reactions, bleeding, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, peripheral neuropathy, thyroid dysfunction, electrolyte anomalies, myocardial ischaemia or infarctions, heart failure (uncommon), GI perforation (uncommon), pancreatitis (uncommon), reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome (rare), hepatitis (rare), nephrotic syndrome (rare) and prolonged QT interval (rare). |
Sunitinib | PO | Multikinase inhibitor (including VEGF & PDGF receptor tyrosine kinases) | renal cell carcinoma, GI stromal tumour and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour | Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, hypertension, left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, blood clots, thyroid dysfunction, electrolyte anomalies, pancreatitis (uncommon), hepatic failure (uncommon), prolonged QT interval (rare), torsades de pointes (rare), GI perforation (rare), fistula formation (rare), seizures (rare), reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome (rare), haemolytic uraemic syndrome (rare), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (rare), nephrotic syndrome (rare), hypersensitivity (rare), angiooedema (rare), toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare) and Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare). |
Vandetanib [21] | PO | Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with selective activity against RET, VEGFR-2 and EGFR | Medullary thyroid cancer. | Diarrhoea, hypertension, QT interval prolongation, depression, electrolyte anomalies, hypothyroidism and GI perforation (uncommon). |
2.3 mTOR inhibitors | ||||
Everolimus | PO | mTOR inhibitor. | Renal cell cancer, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour and breast cancer | Pleural effusion, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, bleeding, kidney failure, hypokalaemia, hypophosphataemia, pneumonitis, impaired wound healing (uncommon), anaphylaxis (rare) and angiooedema (rare). |
Temsirolimus | IV | mTOR inhibitor. | Renal cell cancer and mantle cell lymphoma. | Infusion reactions, impaired wound healing, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, bleeding, kidney failure, hypokalaemia, hypophosphataemia, pneumonitis, bowel perforation (uncommon) and intracerebral bleeding and Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare). |
2.4 Retinoids | ||||
Alitretinoin | Topical | Retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist. | Kaposi's sarcoma. | Oedema, rashes |
Bexarotene [22] | PO, topical | RXR agonist. | Cutaneous T cell lymphoma | Leucopenia, anaemia, lactic dehydrogenase increased, hypochromic anaemia, hyperlipidaemia, hypercholesteraemia, hypothyroidism, haemorrhage, hypertension and kidney dysfunction. |
Isotretinoin | PO, topical | RXR & RAR agonist. | Neuroblastoma [23] and acne. | Topical: Skin reactions, blood lipid anomalies, increased platelet count and osteoporosis. [24] Oral: Anaemia, Red blood cell sedimentation rate increased, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytosis, neutropenia, anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity, diabetes mellitus, hyperuricaemia, psychiatric disturbances (rare), convulsions (very rare), conjunctivitis, vasculitis (very rare), GI haemorrhage (very rare), hepatitis (very rare), erythema multiforme, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, arthritis (very rare), rhabdomyolysis and glomerulonephritis (very rare). [25] |
Tamibarotene | PO | RAR agonist. | Refractory acute promyelocytic leukaemia and Alzheimer's disease. | Hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, gastrointestinal disturbances, liver damage, leucocytosis and differentiation syndrome. |
Tretinoin | PO, topical | RXR & RAR agonist. | Acne and acute promyelocytic leukaemia. | Oral: Differentiation syndrome, hyperleucocytosis, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, arrhythmias, pancreatitis, elevated liver enzymes, thrombosis, intracranial hypertension and pseudotumour cerebri (mainly in children), anxiety, depression and genital ulceration (rare). Topical: Erythema. |
2.4 Immunomodulatory Agents (IMiDs) | ||||
Lenalidomide | PO | Numerous actions; anti-angiogenesis (via inhibition of VEGF release), anti-TNF, IL-6 and pro-IL-2, IFN-γ effects. Also stimulates T cells and apoptosis in cancer cells. | Multiple myeloma | Blood clots, neutropenia (dose-limiting), thrombocytopenia (dose-limiting), anaemia, infection, hypotension, hypokalaemia, hypothyroidism, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, angioedema, pneumonitis, hepatotoxicity and secondary malignancies (mostly myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia). |
Pomalidomide | PO | As above. | Multiple myeloma and systemic sclerosis (orphan). | Neutropenia, anaemia, pneumonia, thrombocytopenia, hypercalcaemia, hyperglycaemia, kidney failure, lymphopenia, hyponatraemia, hypocalcaemia, hypokalaemia, peripheral neuropathy and thromboembolism. |
Thalidomide | PO | As above. | Multiple myeloma, erythema nodosum leprosum and the following orphan indications: graft versus host disease, mycobacterial infection, recurrent aphthous ulcers, severe recurrent aphthous stomatitis, primary brain malignancies, HIV-associated wasting syndrome, Crohn's disease, Kaposi's sarcoma, myelodysplastic syndrome and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. | Peripheral neuropathy, depression, thromboembolism, bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension, leucopenia, hypothyroidism, thrombocytopenia (uncommon), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (rare), toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare), pneumonitis (rare), hepatotoxicity (rare) and hearing loss (rare). |
2.5 Histone deacetylase inhibitors | ||||
Panobinostat | add | add | add | add |
Romidepsin | IV | Histone deacetylase inhibitor, hence inducing alterations in gene expression in the affected cells. | Peripheral and cutaneous T cell lymphoma. | Electrolyte anomalies, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia and ECG anomalies. |
Valproate [Note 1] | PO, IV | As above. | Migraine prophylaxis, mania, epilepsy, fragile X syndrome (orphan), familial adenomatous polyposis (orphan) and the following off-label uses: cervical cancer, melanoma, mesothelioma, acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. | Hyperammonaemia, thrombocytopenia, polycystic ovaries, SIADH (uncommon), hepatic failure (rare), pancreatitis (rare), leucopenia (rare), neutropenia (rare), pure red cell aplasia (rare), agranulocytosis (rare), extrapyramidal syndrome (rare), reduced BMD with long-term use, pleural effusion (rare) and multiorgan hypersensitivity reaction (rare). |
Vorinostat | PO | As above. | As per romidepsin. | Thrombocytopenia, anaemia, QT interval prolongation and pulmonary embolism. |
2.6 Other Agents | ||||
Anagrelide | PO | Phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor. | Essential thrombocythaemia | Fluid retention, palpitations, tachycardia, hepatotoxicity (uncommon), heart failure (uncommon), hypertension (uncommon), arrhythmia (uncommon), syncope (uncommon), cardiomyopathy (rare), cardiomegaly (rare), MI (rare), pulmonary hypertension (rare), interstitial lung disease (rare) and pancreatitis (rare). |
Arsenic trioxide [Note 2] | IV | Not fully understood. Induces partial differentiation and promotes apoptosis of leukaemic cells and may also inhibit angiogenesis. | Refractory or relapsed acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Orphan indications include: acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, malignant glioma, myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple myeloma, liver cancer and chronic myeloid leukaemia. | Differentiation syndrome, hyperleucocytosis, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, ventricular tachycardia, prolonged QT interval, torsades de pointes, complete atrioventricular block, peripheral neuropathy, hyperglycaemia, hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia, elevation of bilirubin or aminotransferases, hepatotoxicity and secondary malignancies. |
Asparaginase [Note 3] | IM, IV | Catalyses the conversion of the amino acid L-asparagine to aspartic acid and thereby reduces the availability of L-asparagine to leukaemic cells. Unlike normal cells, certain types of leukaemic cells do not synthesise L-asparagine, which is essential for cell growth and survival. | Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma. | Allergic reactions, haemorrhagic and thrombotic events, uraemia, pancreatitis, hyperglycaemia, hyperammonaemia, acute kidney failure and diabetic ketoacidosis. |
BCG vaccine [Note 4] | IB | Live, attenuated Mycobacterium bovis, which produces a local inflammatory reaction, resulting in elimination or reduction of superficial tumour lesions of the bladder. | Bladder cancer | Cystitis, BCG infection and contracted bladder. |
Denileukin diftitox | IV | Interleukin 2 combined with diphtheria toxin which binds to the interleukin receptor on immune cells and introduces the diphtheria toxin into the cell. | Cutaneous T cell lymphoma and peripheral T cell lymphoma (orphan). | Infusion reactions, hypocalcaemia, hypotension, thrombocytopenia, Acute kidney injury (uncommon/rare), Hyper/hypothyroidism (uncommon/rare), pancreatitis (uncommon/rare) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (uncommon/rare). |
Vemurafenib | PO | BRAF kinase inhibitor. | BRAF kinase mutation V600E-positive Metastatic melanoma. | Skin reactions, secondary malignancies (mostly squamous cell carcinoma), anaphylaxis (rare) and hypotension (rare). |
Abbreviations/Acronyms: IM – Intramuscular. IV – Intravenous. IA – Intra-arterial. SC – Subcutaneous. PO – Per os, oral. IP – Intrapleural. IB – Intrabladder. Preg. cat. - Pregnancy category. The preferred pregnancy category is Australian, but if it is unavailable the pregnancy category given is American. | ||||
Notes |
An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic, antalgic, pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used for pain management. Analgesics are conceptually distinct from anesthetics, which temporarily reduce, and in some instances eliminate, sensation, although analgesia and anesthesia are neurophysiologically overlapping and thus various drugs have both analgesic and anesthetic effects.
Hepatotoxicity implies chemical-driven liver damage. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a cause of acute and chronic liver disease caused specifically by medications and the most common reason for a drug to be withdrawn from the market after approval.
Protease inhibitors (PIs) are medications that act by interfering with enzymes that cleave proteins. Some of the most well known are antiviral drugs widely used to treat HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and COVID-19. These protease inhibitors prevent viral replication by selectively binding to viral proteases and blocking proteolytic cleavage of protein precursors that are necessary for the production of infectious viral particles.
Sulfonylureas or sulphonylureas are a class of organic compounds used in medicine and agriculture. The functional group consists of a sulfonyl group (-S(=O)2) with its sulphur atom bonded to a nitrogen atom of a ureylene group (N,N-dehydrourea, a dehydrogenated derivative of urea). The side chains R1 and R2 distinguish various sulfonylureas. Sulfonylureas are the most widely used herbicide.
Riluzole is a medication used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other motor neuron diseases. Riluzole delays the onset of ventilator-dependence or tracheostomy in some people and may increase survival by two to three months. Riluzole is available in tablet and liquid form.
Tiagabine is an anticonvulsant medication produced by Cephalon that is used in the treatment of epilepsy. The drug is also used off-label in the treatment of anxiety disorders and panic disorder.
Nicotine gum is a chewing gum containing the active ingredient nicotine polacrilex. It is a type of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) used alone or in combination with other pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation and for quitting smokeless tobacco.
Colestyramine (INN) or cholestyramine (USAN) is a bile acid sequestrant, which binds bile in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent its reabsorption. It is a strong ion exchange resin, which means it can exchange its chloride anions with anionic bile acids in the gastrointestinal tract and bind them strongly in the resin matrix. The functional group of the anion exchange resin is a quaternary ammonium group attached to an inert styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer.
A halogenated ether is a subcategory of a larger group of chemicals known as ethers. An ether is an organic chemical that contains an ether group—an oxygen atom connected to two (substituted) alkyl groups. A good example of an ether is the solvent diethyl ether. What differentiates a halogenated ether from other types of ethers is the substitution (halogenation) of one or more hydrogen atoms with a halogen atom. Halogen atoms include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.
Sulindac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the arylalkanoic acid class that is marketed as Clinoril. Imbaral is another name for this drug. Its name is derived from sul(finyl)+ ind(ene)+ ac(etic acid) It was patented in 1969 and approved for medical use in 1976.
Sulfadiazine is an antibiotic. Used together with pyrimethamine, a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, it is the treatment of choice for toxoplasmosis, which is caused by a protozoan parasite. It is a second-line treatment for otitis media, prophylaxis of rheumatic fever, chancroid, chlamydia, and infections by Haemophilus influenzae. It is also used as adjunct therapy for chloroquine-resistant malaria and several forms of bacterial meningitis. It is taken by mouth. Sulfadiazine is available in multiple generic tablets of 500 mg. For urinary tract infections, the usual dose is 4 to 6 grams daily in 3 to 6 divided doses.
Shou Wu Chih is a Chinese patent medicine that is claimed to provide health benefits.
Gray baby syndrome is a rare but serious, even fatal, side effect that occurs in newborn infants following the accumulation of the antibiotic chloramphenicol. Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that has been used to treat a variety of bacteria infections like Streptococcus pneumoniae as well as typhoid fever, meningococcal sepsis, cholera, and eye infections. Chloramphenicol works by binding to ribosomal subunits which blocks transfer ribonucleic acid (RNA) and prevents the synthesis of bacterial proteins. Chloramphenicol has also been used to treat neonates born before 37 weeks of the gestational period for prophylactic purposes. In 1958, newborns born prematurely due to rupture of the amniotic sac were given chloramphenicol to prevent possible infections, and it was noticed that these newborns had a higher mortality rate compared with those who were not treated with the antibiotic. Over the years, chloramphenicol has been used less in clinical practice due to the risks of toxicity not only to neonates, but also to adults due to the risk of aplastic anemia. Chloramphenicol is now reserved to treat certain severe bacteria infections that were not successfully treated with other antibiotic medications.
Antifolates are a class of antimetabolite medications that antagonise (that is, block) the actions of folic acid (vitamin B9). Folic acid's primary function in the body is as a cofactor to various methyltransferases involved in serine, methionine, thymidine and purine biosynthesis. Consequently, antifolates inhibit cell division, DNA/RNA synthesis and repair and protein synthesis. Some such as proguanil, pyrimethamine and trimethoprim selectively inhibit folate's actions in microbial organisms such as bacteria, protozoa and fungi. The majority of antifolates work by inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR).
Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) is a rare liver disease, characterised by the growth of nodules within the liver, resulting in liver hyperplasia. While in many cases it is asymptomatic and thus goes undetected – or is only discovered incidentally while investigating some other medical condition – in some people it results in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). NCPH is generally less severe than the much more common portal hypertension due to cirrhosis. Complications of NCPH can include jaundice, ascites, splenomegaly, and bleeding esophageal varices. Most people with NRH retain normal liver function – even among the subset who go on to develop NCPH – and liver failure in NRH is uncommon. Only a small proportion of NRH patients will ever require liver transplantation.
Interferon alfa (INN) or HuIFN-alpha-Le, trade name Multiferon, is a pharmaceutical drug composed of natural interferon alpha (IFN-α), obtained from the leukocyte fraction of human blood following induction with Sendai virus. Interferon alfa contains several naturally occurring IFN-α subtypes and is purified by affinity chromatography. Although the pharmaceutical product is often simply called "interferon alpha" or "IFN-α" like its endogenous counterpart, the product's International nonproprietary name (INN) is interferon alfa.
Pexidartinib, sold under the brand name Turalio, is a kinase inhibitor drug for the treatment of adults with symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) associated with severe morbidity or functional limitations and not amenable to improvement with surgery. Pexidartinib blocks the activity of the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R).
Adrenergic blocking agents are a class of drugs that exhibit its pharmacological action through inhibiting the action of the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The sympathetic nervous system(SNS) is an autonomic nervous system that we cannot control by will. It triggers a series of responses after the body releases chemicals named noradrenaline and epinephrine. These chemicals will act on adrenergic receptors, with subtypes Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, Beta-2, Beta-3, which ultimately allow the body to trigger a "fight-or-flight" response to handle external stress. These responses include vessel constriction in general vessels whereas there is vasodilation in vessels that supply skeletal muscles or in coronary vessels. Additionally, the heart rate and contractile force increase when SNS is activated, which may be harmful to cardiac function as it increases metabolic demand.
Gout suppressants are agents which control and prevent gout attacks after the first episode. They can be generally classified into two groups by their purpose: drugs used for induction therapy and that for maintenance therapy.