A new classification system of anticancer drugs – Based on cell biological mechanisms

SummaryThe arrival of a great number of new anticancer agents has made it necessary to reclassify all of them. We established a new classification system based on cell biological mechanisms. Anticancer drugs were grouped as cytotoxic drug and modifier, which could regulate the interaction of tumor, host and drugs. The modifiers were subdivided into three groups: cell biological modifier which reverses the abnormal biological behaviour of tumor cells, biological response modifier which regulates the host response of tumor and biochemical modulator which affects the host’s metabolic pathway of cytotoxic drug to enhance the chemosensitivity or reduce the adverse reaction. Combination with cell biological modifiers and cytotoxic drugs play a double role of killer and rectifier for tumor cells, whereas biological response modifiers and cytotoxic drugs are combined to regulate the tumor–host interaction. Biochemical modulators and cytotoxic drugs are combined to enhance the chemosensitivity or improve the dose of cytotoxic drugs.