Antimetabolites are drugs that interfere with one or more enzymes or their reactions that are necessary for DNA synthesis. They affect DNA synthesis by acting as a substitute to the actual metabolites that would be used in the normal metabolism (for example antifolates interfere with the use of folic acid). Many antimetabolites are used for therapeutic purposes. Sulfanilamides, for example, are antimetabolites that disrupt bacterial, but not human, metabolism and are used to eradicate bacterial infections in humans. Other examples include antagonists of purines (azathioprine, mercaptopurine, and thioguanine) and antagonists of pyrimidine (fluorouracil and floxuridine). Cytarabine, which also has antiviral properties, interferes with dihydrofolate reductase, which is necessary for the synthesis of tetrahydrofolate and subsequently for the synthesis of the folic acid needed for DNA formation. Methotrexate, used most often in the treatment of acute leukemia, breast cancer, lung cancer, and osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma), has also been used in low doses for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Related journals of Antimetabolites
Cancer Medicine & Anti Cancer Drugs, Journal of Leukemia, Chemotherapy, Cervical Cancer, Journal of Cancer Diagnosis, Oncogenesis, Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis, Cancer Letters, Cancer Microenvironment, Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research, Molecular Carcinogenesis, Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
