What is the mechanism of chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy kills cells that are in the process of splitting into 2 new cells. Body tissues are made of billions of individual cells. Once we are fully grown, most of the body’s cells don’t divide and multiply much. They only divide if they need to repair damage.

What is the main drug in chemotherapy?

Alkylating agents are most active in the resting phase of the cell. These types of drugs are cell-cycle non-specific. There are several types of alkylating agents used in chemotherapy treatments: Mustard gas derivatives: Mechlorethamine, Cyclophosphamide, Chlorambucil, Melphalan, and Ifosfamide.

What is chemo resistant?

Cancer chemotherapy resistance (MDR) is the innate and/or acquired ability of cancer cells to evade the effects of chemotherapeutics and is one of the most pressing major dilemmas in cancer therapy. Chemotherapy resistance can arise due to several host or tumor-related factors.

What are the limitations of chemotherapy?

The disadvantages of chemotherapy are the toxic side effects, the development of resistance to the chemical agents, and the need for other forms of treatment, in combination with chemotherapy, in order to cure the patient. These disadvantages are why molecular based treatments are becoming so valuable.

Why does chemotherapy cause side effects?

Why does chemo cause side effects? Cancer cells tend to grow fast, and chemo drugs kill fast-growing cells. But because these drugs travel throughout the body, they can affect normal, healthy cells that are fast-growing, too. Damage to healthy cells causes side effects.

What happens if your body rejects chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy resistance occurs when cancers that have been responding to a therapy suddenly begin to grow. In other words, the cancer cells are resisting the effects of the chemotherapy. You may hear statements like the “cancer chemotherapy failed.” When this occurs, the drugs will need to be changed.

Why chemo is not working?

Some types of cancer are more resistant to chemo than others, and others can become resistant to it over time. Here are some signs that chemotherapy may not be working as well as expected: tumors aren’t shrinking. new tumors keep forming.