Antineoplastic Drugs : Treatment Principles and Toxicity

Abstract

The therapy of cancer has improved dramatically during the past half century. This improvement can be traced to a number of factors: a better understanding of cancer's cause and natural history, better technologies for early detection and diagnosis, improved control of primary tumors through surgery and radiation therapy and more effective drugs. The evolution of drug therapy for cancer has progressed rapidly from alkylating agents and antimetabolites to natural products, and most recently, molecular targeted drugs such as imatinib and gefitinib. As our understanding of the biology of cancer improves, new targets for therapy are being identified daily. [Vet. World 2011; 4(8.000): 380-382]

Keywords

• Antineoplastic drugs
• Drug classes
• Pathophysiology
• Treatment
• Toxicity