: Once the DNA damage becomes too severe to repair, the cell's internal checkpoints trigger programmed cell death (apoptosis). From old alkylating agents to new minor groove binders
: Bifunctional agents can link two DNA bases together (interstrand or intrastand cross-linking), which prevents the DNA strands from separating for replication. alkalating agent
The primary goal of these agents is to disrupt the DNA replication process. They achieve this through a process called : : Once the DNA damage becomes too severe
: Repair enzymes in the cell may attempt to fix the damaged DNA, which often results in further strand breaks and fragmentation. They achieve this through a process called :
Alkylating agents are a critical class of chemotherapy drugs that act directly on the DNA of cells to prevent them from growing and dividing. Unlike many other cancer treatments, they are , meaning they can attack cancer cells at any stage of their life cycle. How They Work
: The drug attaches an "alkyl group" to a DNA base, most frequently at the N7 position of guanine .