许多人曾问过我这个问题，但因时间甚少一直没有系统回答。今天趁着工作间隙，把当前美国FDA所批准并已经大规模使用且取得明显疗效的试剂中，代表性的列出几类积累以飨读者：烷化剂，植物碱，抗生素，抗代谢物，拓扑异构酶抑制剂，混成抗癌药。但是，随着基础医学新发现和相应新药物的增多，我会尽量及时更新，敬请各位网友批评指正，谢谢。

Types of Chemotherapy

Alkylating agents
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.
• Ethylenimines:  Thiotepa and Hexamethylmelamine.
• Alkylsulfonates:  Busulfan.
• Hydrazines and Triazines: Altretamine, Procarbazine, Dacarbazine and Temozolomide.
• Nitrosureas:  Carmustine, Lomustine and Streptozocin.  Nitrosureas are unique because, unlike most types of chemo treatments, they can cross the blood-brain barrier.  They can be useful in treating brain tumors.
• Metal salts:  Carboplatin, Cisplatin, and Oxaliplatin.

Plant Alkaloids
Plant alkaloids are chemotherapy treatments derived made from certain types of plants.  The vinca alkaloids are made from the periwinkle plant (catharanthus rosea). The taxanes are made from the bark of the Pacific Yew tree (taxus).  The vinca alkaloids and taxanes are also known as antimicrotubule agents. The podophyllotoxins are derived from the May apple plant. Camptothecan analogs are derived from the Asian "Happy Tree" (Camptotheca acuminata).  Podophyllotoxins and camptothecan analogs are also known as topoisomerase inhibitors, which are used in certain types of chemotherapy.  The plant alkaloids are cell-cycle specific.  This means they attack the cells during various phases of division.

• Vinca alkaloids: Vincristine, Vinblastine and Vinorelbine.
• Taxanes:  Paclitaxel and Docetaxel.
• Podophyllotoxins:  Etoposide and Tenisopide.
• Camptothecan analogs: Irinotecan and Topotecan.

Antitumor Antibiotics
Antitumor antibiotics are chemo treatments made from natural products produced by species of the soil fungus Streptomyces.  These drugs act during multiple phases of the cell cycle and are considered cell-cycle specific.  There are several types of antitumor antibiotics:

• Anthracyclines:  Doxorubicin, Daunorubicin, Epirubicin, Mitoxantrone, and Idarubicin.
• Chromomycins:  Dactinomycin and Plicamycin.
• Miscellaneous:  Mitomycin and Bleomycin.

Antimetabolites
Antimetabolites are types of chemotherapy treatments that are very similar to normal substances within the cell.  When the cells incorporate these substances into the cellular metabolism, they are unable to divide.  Antimetabolites are cell-cycle specific.  They attack cells at very specific phases in the cycle.  Antimetabolites are classified according to the substances with which they interfere.

• Folic acid antagonist:  Methotrexate.
• Pyrimidine antagonist:  5-Fluorouracil, Foxuridine, Cytarabine, Capecitabine, and Gemcitabine.
• Purine antagonist:  6-Mercaptopurine and 6-Thioguanine.
• Adenosine deaminase inhibitor:  Cladribine, Fludarabine, Nelarabine and Pentostatin.

Topoisomerase inhibitors
Toposiomerase inhibitors are types of chemotherapy drugs that interfere with the action of topoisomerase enzymes (topoisomerase I and II).  During the process of chemo treatments, topoisomerase enzymes control the manipulation of the structure of DNA necessary for replication.

• Topoisomerase I inhibitors:  Ironotecan, topotecan
• Topoisomerase II inhibitors:  Amsacrine, etoposide, etoposide phosphate, teniposide

Miscellaneous Antineoplastics
Several useful types of chemotherapy drugs are unique:

• Ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor:  Hydroxyurea. 
• Adrenocortical steroid inhibitor:  Mitotane
• Enzymes:  Asparaginase and Pegaspargase.
• Antimicrotubule agent:  Estramustine
• Retinoids:  Bexarotene, Isotretinoin, Tretinoin (ATRA)

Beyond the aforementioned types of chemotherapy, many other types of chemo treatments exist, such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy.

More Chemotherapy Information:

Chemotherapy Terms
Chemotherapy Protocols - How Chemotherapy Works
How Chemotherapy Is Given
How Doctors Decide Which Chemotherapy Drugs To Give
How Long Chemotherapy Is Given
How To Tell If Chemotherapy Is Working
Cancer Cells & Chemotherapy
Types of Chemotherapy
Targeted Therapy
The Immune System
About Immunotherapy
Hormone Therapy
Chemporotective Agents
Chemotherapy Resistance
Short & Long Term Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Nadir
Cancer Clinical Trials