HAROLD BURSTEIN, MD: What almost all chemotherapy drugs share in common is that they target the DNA machinery of the cell, or they target the so-called microtubules, the small structural elements within the cancer cell that help maintain the normal shape and function of the cell.
ANNOUNCER: There are many different classes of chemotherapy drugs.
HAROLD BURSTEIN, MD: These include anthracyclines, drugs like doxorubicin and epirubicin; taxanes, that's paclitaxel and docetaxel and derivatives of paclitaxel; vinca alkaloids, drugs like vinorelbine; alkylator-type chemotherapy drugs, cyclophosphamide and carboplatin; drugs that are so-called antimetabolites, drugs like capecitabine or 5-FU or gemcitabine.
ANNOUNCER: Combinations of the drugs are sometimes given to patients. Hair loss, nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions, low blood counts, mouth sores and neuropathy, a tingling in the hands and feet are common chemotherapy side effects. Anti-nausea medicines and medicines to help regulate blood counts have improved the patient experience.
ERIC WINER, MD: Most of our large studies have demonstrated that giving single agents one after the other gives you ultimately as good a result as giving combinations and giving single-agent chemotherapy tends to be associated with fewer side effects.
ANNOUNCER: Doctors are finding newer and safer ways to give old chemotherapy drugs.
