Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Treatments

What is chemotherapy? Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment in which drugs are used to destroy cancer cells. In most cases, the drugs stop the cells from growing or multiplying. For that reason, they are often called "anticancer" drugs. The following is an overview of the more popular cancer-fighting drugs used in chemotherapy.

Cytarabine - Cytarabine is a clear, liquid drug that mimics the nutrients needed by cancer cells to continue growing. Once cytarabine is taken in by healthy cancer cells, it works against them and stops them from growing.

Mitoxantrone - Mitoxantrone is another chemotherapy drug that stops cell growth and division. It is usually blue in color and administered through a needle. Mitoxantrone is most effective when used with other drugs.

Etoposide - It is still unknown how etoposide fights cancer. Scientists believe the drug, which can be taken orally or through an injection, interferes with the growth of cancer cells, eventually destroying them. The drug may also affect the development of normal human cells, causing patients to lose some hair.

Idarubicin - Idarubicin is a drug administered intravenously in order to kill growing cancer cells. A major drawback to the drug is that it causes a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Another side effect of the drug is that it can negatively affect the growth of normal body cells; patients are advised to expect some hair loss when taking Idarubicin.

Daunorubicin - Daunorubicin is a type of antibiotic used in chemotherapy. The drug slows and stops the growth of cancer cells.

Amsarcrine - Amsarcrine is a medicine that destroys cancer cells in all phases of cell life; it is administered intravenously.

CHOP - CHOP is an acronym for a chemotherapy regimen that uses four drugs to treat Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The drugs are: Cyclophosphamide (which is represented by the C in the acronym), Adriamycin, which has the brand name of Hydroxydoxorubicin (and represents the H in the acronym), Vincristine, which goes by the brand name Onocovin (and is represented by the O), and the drug Prednisone (which is represented by the P). CHOP is usually administered for a total of six cycles, with each cycle being given every four weeks.

MINE - MINE is an acronym that stands for a chemotherapy therapy that, like CHOP, incorporates four cancer-fighting drugs. The drugs it uses are Mesna, Ifosfamide, Novantrone®, and etopsides.

Zevalin - Zevalin is used in a new area of cancer treatment, called radioimmuntherapy. In this treatment, cancer-attacking antibodies are combined with localized radiation to kill cancer cells. After Zevalin is injected into a patient, it locates and binds to the cancer cells. Once these dangerous cells are identified, Zevalin delivers radiation directly into them.

Rituxan - Rituxan is an antibody used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Cyclophosphamide - Cyclophosphamide, marketed as Cytoxan and Neosar, treats leukemias and lymphomas by inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells in the body. In addition, because it acts as an immunosuppressant, cyclophosphamide increases the likelihood that a bone marrow transplant will be successful. Immunosuppresants prevent the body from rejecting foreign, transplanted cells. Like other chemotherapy drugs, cyclophosphamide causes a number of side effects (nausea, hair loss, illness, and weight loss, for example). The risk of infection is particularly high with cyclophosphamide. Because the drug interferes with the immune system, special precautions must be taken to protect the patient from viruses and bacteria.

Antithymocyte Globulin - Clinical trials of this drug are currently underway. Scientists are trying to learn more about its effectivenessn treating myelodyspia, especially when the drug is used in conjunction with the drug cyclosporien. Other trial goals include learning whether this drug, used in combination with cyclosporien, can increase blood counts in patients and reduce their need for transfusions. The trial is also expected to shed more light on the survival rates of those who respond to this drug treatment.

Fludarabine - Fludarabine belongs to a group of medicines called antimetabolites. It is used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Fludarabine interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. The one major drawback to Fludarabine is that it largely suppresses the bone marrow and stem cell production. The drug also may affect the growth of normal body cells, so those who take the drug are advised to speak broach these subjects with their doctor.

Mycophenolate mofetil -This medication is given to stop tumor cells or viruses from growing inside the body. It is also used to prevent the body from rejecting a kidney, liver or heart transplant. It is injected either under the skin or into a muscle.

Interferon Therapy - This therapy is used to prevent tumor cells or viruses from growing inside the body. Interferons are proteins produced by white blood cells to help fight infections and tumors. There are also synthetic versions of these substances. In addition, manufactured forms of interferons are used in cancer immunotherapy to improve the body's response to the disease. This treatment therapy generally runs six months in duration. For the first 10-24 weeks, patients are given an injection every day. This is followed by an injection administered three times per week.

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