Anticancer medications are categorized according to their target specificity, chemical structure, or mode of action. 

1.      Alkylating Agent:

By adding alkyl groups to DNA, these medications cause cross-linking and DNA strand breaks.

• ·                   Nitrogen Mustards: Cyclophosphamide, Ifosfamide
• ·                   Nitrosoureas: Carmustine, Lomustine
• ·                   Platinum Compounds: Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Oxaliplatin
• ·                  Others: Busulfan, Dacarbazine

2.      Antimetabolites:

These mimic natural compounds to disrupt the production of DNA and RNA.

• ·                    Folic Acid Antagonists: Methotrexate, Pemetrexed
• ·                    Pyrimidine Analogues: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), Capecitabine, Cytarabine
• ·                   Purine Analogues: 6-Mercaptopurine, Fludarabine

3.      Natural Products:

Natural components may damage DNA or act as antimitotics. Antimitotic drugs change the cytoskeleton of cells or interfere with mitotic spindles' capacity to segregate chromosomes.

• ·                  Vinca Alkaloids: Vincristine, Vinblastine, Vinorelbine
• ·                  Taxanes: Paclitaxel, Docetaxel
• ·                  Epipodophyllotoxins: Etoposide, Teniposide
• ·                 Anthracyclines: Doxorubicin, Daunorubicin
• ·                 Camptothecins: Irinotecan, Topotecan 

4.      Topoisomerase Inhibitors:

Topoisomerase inhibitors stop DNA from copying itself by blocking an enzyme called topoisomerase. In addition to preventing cancer cells from proliferating, blocking this enzyme can harm cell DNA.

• ·                  Topoisomerase I Inhibitors: Irinotecan, Topotecan
• ·                 Topoisomerase II Inhibitors: Etoposide, Teniposide

5.      Hormonal Agents:

Used for cancers (such as breast and prostate) that are hormone-sensitive.

• ·         Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs): Tamoxifen, Raloxifene
• ·         Aromatase Inhibitors: Anastrozole, Letrozole
• ·         Anti-Androgens: Flutamide, Bicalutamide
• ·         Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) Analogues: Leuprolide, Goserelin

6.      Anti-Microtubule Agents:

These interfere with cell division by blocking microtubule activity.

• ·                   Taxanes (e.g., Paclitaxel)
• ·                   Vinca Alkaloids (e.g., Vincristine)

7.      Targeted Therapies:

Intended to target particular compounds found in cancerous cells.

• ·                   Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs): Imatinib, Erlotinib
• ·                   Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs): Trastuzumab, Bevacizumab
• ·                  Proteasome Inhibitors: Bortezomib, Carfilzomib
• ·                  Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab

8.      Corticosteroids:

Usually, corticosteroids are not regarded as chemotherapy therapies. They are prescribed by medical professionals for a number of ailments. However, corticosteroids are often taken by patients receiving chemotherapy medications in order to assist control adverse effects. These medications can also stop cancer cells from proliferating and kill them.

·         Dexamethasone.

·         Hydrocortisone.

·         Methylprednisolone.

·         Prednisolone.

·         Prednisone.

9.      Radiopharmaceuticals

Give cancer cells radioactive isotopes.

·         Radium-223

·         Iodine-131

10.  Epigenetic Modifiers:

Concentrate on epigenetic alterations such as histone modification and DNA methylation.

•                 DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors: Azacitidine, Decitabine
•                 Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors: Vorinostat, Panobinosta

11.  Miscellaneous Agents:

Not every chemotherapy medication falls into one of the primary groups. Other typical chemotherapy medications include

·         Thalidomide, Lenalidomide

·         Asparaginase

·         Hydroxyurea

·         Omacetaxine