File:Fmolb-09-1015746-g001 (3).jpg

English: Mode of action of chemotherapeutic agents in cancer cells. (A) Thalidomide inhibits angiogenesis, prevents the production of interleukin-6 and activates apoptotic pathways via caspase 8-mediated cell death. (B) Chemotherapy affects the tumor immune microenvironment. (C) Vincristine binds to the β-tubulin subunit of microtubule in the S phase of the cell cycle, which leads to the inhibition of microtubule assembly. The disruption of mitotic spindle formation results in the mitotic arrest of cancer cells at metaphase and subsequent cell death. (D) Paclitaxel, docetaxel and ixabepilone bind to the β-tubulin subunit of microtubule and inhibit microtubule disassembly, which causes G2/M cell cycle arrest and cell death. (E) Bortezomib reversibly inhibits the 26S proteasome, which disrupts proteasome-mediated proteolysis. This disruption causes the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins and subsequent cell death. (F) Oxaliplatin, cisplatin and carboplatin bind to DNA to form cross-links that prevent DNA replication and transcription, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. (G) Vincristine, paclitaxel and docetaxel alter the mitochondrial electron transport chain while cisplatin results in the increased production of reactive oxygen species.