ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the biological and medical aspects of some particular chemotherapies in widespread use, and some particular mathematical treatments. The alkylating agents make up the largest and oldest class of chemotherapeutics. They target the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and proteins, although their interaction with DNA is generally considered to be the dominant mechanism for cytotoxicity. In the 1950s and 60s two major classes of nitrogen mustard derivatives were developed specifically to target tumor cells. The reactivity of the nitrogen mustard base is also reduced in these drugs, which allows more of the drug to reach the DNA target intact. Cisplatin's major mechanism of action as a cytotoxic agent requires intracellular activation of the molecule by aquation of one of the two Cl groups. The principle antimetabolites in cancer chemotherapy are the antifolates, which primarily interfere with nitrogenous base synthesis. Recently, monoclonal antibodies targeting either cancer-specific, mutated proteins, or cytokines involved in cancer progression, have also been used.
