anticancer

Anticancer refers to substances and strategies intended to prevent, treat, or kill cancer cells and tumors. The term encompasses drugs, biological agents, and nonpharmacologic interventions used in oncology.

Major categories include cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapy that interferes with specific molecular pathways, immunotherapy that stimulates the immune system or removes immune brakes, hormone therapies, anti-angiogenic agents that cut off tumor blood vessels, and radiopharmaceuticals. Non-drug modalities such as surgery and radiation therapy are often used in anticancer care.

Mechanisms vary: some agents disrupt DNA replication or cell division, others inhibit signaling pathways essential for tumor growth, while immunotherapies enhance immune recognition of cancer cells or modulate the tumor microenvironment.

Development and evaluation: anticancer approaches are developed through preclinical studies and clinical trials in phases I–III to assess safety and efficacy, followed by regulatory review. Postmarketing surveillance tracks long-term safety.

Challenges include adverse effects on healthy tissue, tumor heterogeneity and resistance, limited efficacy in some cancers, and high costs. Access and equity issues also affect outcomes.

Current trends emphasize personalized or precision oncology, using molecular profiling to match therapies to tumor characteristics, combination regimens to overcome resistance, and adoptive cell therapies such as CAR-T. Research also explores preventive strategies, early detection, and minimizing collateral damage.