What are the different types of chemotherapy drugs?

Alkylating Agents

Alkylating agents inhibit cell function and division by reacting with DNA and alkylating it. This type of drugs include  cyclophosphamide, mephalan, nitrosureas like carmustine and platinum compounds like cisplatin.

Antimetabolites

These resemble the normal substance within the cell and affect cancer cells by interfering with its division. Examples include fluorouracil and methotrexate.

Antimicrotubule Agents

Vinca alkaloids like vincristine are drugs that are derived from the plant Vinca rosea and taxanes like paclitaxel obtained from yews, inhibit the cell division by inhibiting the microtubule.

Antitumor Antibiotics

These are anticancer drugs derived from fungi like anthracyclins (doxorubicin).

Topoisomerase Inhibitors

It blocks the action of topoisomerase I and II, enzymes that promote unbinding of double helical DNA, which is essential for cell replication. This group includes drugs like irinotecan and topotecan.

Small Molecule Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

This is a group of drugs that are targeted drugs which inhibit certain enzymes present in pathways involving cancer cells. Unlike the conventional chemotherapy drugs, these are not cytotoxic. Drugs in this group include imatinib, sorafenib and sunitinib.

Miscellaneous Cancer Drugs

Drugs targeting proteasome like bortezomib, histone deacetylase inhibitors like vorinostat, thalidomide, and L-asparaginase are some of the other chemotherapeutic agents which are approved for treating cance