| Class of drug | Drug | Clinical use | Mechanism of action |
| Anthracyclines | Doxorubicin | Leukaemias, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, bladder, breast, stomach, lung, ovarian, thyroid, soft tissue sarcomas, multiple myeloma and more | Acts by intercalating DNA, resulting in complex formation which inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis. Triggers DNA cleavage by topoisomerase II resulting in cell death | | Epirubicin | Breast, ovarian, gastric, lung, and lymphomas | Acts by intercalating DNA | Taxanes | Paclitaxel | Ovarian, breast, lung and Kaposi’s sarcoma | Mitotic inhibitor; interferes with the normal function of microtubule breakdown. Also induces apoptosis | | Docetaxel | Ovarian, breast and lung | Interferes with microtubule breakdown | Vinca Alkaloids | Vinblastine | Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, lung, breast, head and neck and testicular | It binds tubulin, thereby inhibiting the assembly of microtubules | Anti-metabolites | 5-Fluorouracil | Breast, head and neck, stomach, colon and some skin cancers | Metabolised to cytotoxic metabolites which are incorporated into DNA and RNA, inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis | | Methotrexate | Leukaemia, breast, skin, head and neck and lung | Inhibits metabolism of folic acid. Acts specifically during DNA and RNA synthesis, and thus it is cytotoxic during the S-phase of the cell cycle | Anthracenediones | Mitoxantrone | Breast, Leukaemia, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Prostate | Topoisomerase II inhibitor; disrupts DNA synthesis and DNA repair |
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