Cancer is treated with a wide variety of drugs. The following tables contain descriptions of the drugs described on the CancerQuest website. They are not intended to be comprehensive lists of cancer drugs. Instead, they provide easy ways to find information on some of the most common cancer treatments. It is possible for a drug to appear in more than one table.
This section contains the following tables :
- ChemotherapyTreatment of cancer patients with anticancer drugs. Commonly called 'chemo'. These drugs work by attacking cell growth or division. Often these agents are used in combination to take advantage of their different modes of attack on cell division. Drugs
- Hormonal, Biological, and AntibodyAntibody molecules tightly bind to their targets (usually proteins) with great specificity. Antibody binding alerts the immune system to target the bound molecule for destruction. Specific antibodies can be made in the laboratory. -based Treatment Tables
- Targeted Therapies
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Chemotherapy Drugs
Below is a table of chemotherapy drugs discussed in this website. To go directly to the page where a particular drug is discussed, click on the name. For an explanation of the type of drug, click on the type of chemotherapy listed. If you have trouble finding a particular drug, go to edit on your browser and use the Find on Page feature.
More information on these drugs can be found at the FDA Approved Oncology Drugs website and/or the Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine Online. This site is only available to those with a subscription. A hardcopy version of the book is available from McGraw Hill Publishers
Hormonal, Biological, and Antibody-based Treatment Tables
Hormonal Treatments
This table lists the hormonal treatments discussed in this website. To go directly to the page where a particular drug is discussed, click on the name. If you have trouble finding a particular drug, go to edit (or press Ctrl+F or Apple+F) on your browser and use the Find on Page feature.
| Generic Name | Brand Name | Type of Drug |
| Aldesleukin, Interleukin-2 (IL-2) | Proleukin® | BRM |
| Alpha InterferonA group of protein messengers produced by cells of the immune system and some other cells. Interferons can help cells to defend themselves against viral infection and are used in the treatment of some cancers to boost the body's ability to eliminate cancer cells. | Intron®, Roferon®-A | BRM |
| Imiquimod | Aldara® | BRM |
| Lenalidomide | Revlimid® | BRM |
| Generic Name | Brand Name | Type of Drug |
| Alemtuzumab | Campath® | Antibody |
| Bevacizumab | Avastin® | Antibody |
| Gemtuzumab | Mylotarg® | Antibody |
| Ibritumomab | Zevalin® | Antibody |
| Rituximab | Rituxan®, Mabthera® | Antibody |
| Tositumomab | Bexxar® | Antibody |
| Trastuzumab | Herceptin® | Antibody |
More information on these drugs can be found at the FDA Approved Oncology Drugs website and/or the Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine Online. This site is only available to those with a subscription. A hardcopy version of the book is available from McGraw Hill Publishers
Targeted Therapies
The table below lists targeted therapy drugs discussed on this website. To go directly to the page where a particular drug is discussed, click on the name. If you have trouble finding a particular drug, go to edit (or press Ctrl+F) on your browser and use the Find on Page feature.
More information on these drugs can be found at the FDA Approved Over the Counter and Prescription Drugs website and/or the Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine Online. This site is only available to those with a subscription. A hardcopy version of the book is available from McGraw Hill Publishers
More information on this topic may be found in Chapter 16 of The Biology of Cancer by Robert A. Weinberg.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
| CAM Classification |
CAM Therapy |
| Animal Derived | Coenzyme Q10, Shark Cartilage |
| Mind-Body Techniques | Hypnosis, Prayer, Spirituality, Support Groups, Yoga, Tai Chi |
| Phytochemicals | Anthocyanin, Cannabis and Hemp Oil, Curcumin, EGCG, Lycopene, Phytoestrogens, Pycnogenol, Resveratrol, Selenium, Essiac®, Flor-Essence® |
| Product / Treatment Plan | Controlled Amino AcidA monomer building block used to build proteins. There are many amino acids but only about twenty different kinds are found in most proteins. Therapy, Essiac®, Flor-Essence®, Homeopathy |
| Man-made chemicals | DCA |
| Biological Process Affected |
CAM Therapy |
| Angiogenesis | Curcumin, DCA, EGCG, Shark Cartilage, Resveratrol |
| ApoptosisAlso called programmed cell death. Apoptosis is a natural process that occurs throughout the lives of almost all animals and plants. The death of the cells is a carefully controlled process that does not generate any inflammation. | Anthocyanin, Curcumin, DCA, EGCG, Lycopene, Resveratrol, Selenium |
| InflammationA reaction to tissue damage or invasion. Small blood vessels become leaky, leading to redness and swelling. Cells of the immune system migrate to the area and can release chemicals and proteins that cause damage to the structures/cells nearby. | Anthocyanin, Pycnogenol |
| MetabolismThe sum of all reactions in a cell or animal. Processes that lead to the creation of biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids are termed anabolic pathways. Processes in which biomolecules are broken down, such as the digestion of foods, are termed catabolic. Metabolism is a term that encompasses both sets of processes. | DCA |
| Metastasis | Curcumin, Resveratrol |
| Oxidation (i.e. Antioxidants) |
Anthocyanin, Curcumin, EGCG, Essiac®, Flor-Essence®, Lycopene, Phytoestrogens, Pycnogenol |
| ProliferationRefers to cell division. The proliferation rate is an indicator of how quickly a tumor is growing. The proliferation rate may be represented as a percentage, showing what fraction of the cells are actively involved in the division process. | Anthocyanin, Coenzyme Q10, Curcumin, EGCG, Selenium |
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