Chemotherapeutic agents are classified according to what feature?

Chemotherapeutic agents are classified according to what feature?

a.
Side effects
b.
Effectiveness
c.
Mechanism of action
d.
Route of administration

ANS: C

Chemotherapeutic agents are classified according to mechanism of action. For example, antimetabolites resemble essential metabolic elements needed for growth but are different enough to block further deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis. Although the side effect profiles may be similar for drugs within a classification, they are not the basis for classification. Most chemotherapeutic regimens contain combinations of drugs. The effectiveness of any one drug is relative to the cancer type, combination therapy, and protocol for administration. The route of administration is determined by the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of each drug.