Blog
Save
Email
Print
ShareChemotherapy is the use of chemical substances to treat disease.
In its modern-day use, it refers primarily to cytotoxic drugs used to treat cancer.
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells due to damage to DNA (mutations) and, occasionally, due to an inherited propensity to develop certain tumours.
Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body; in other words, the body attacks its own cells.
In contrast, transplant rejection happens because a normal healthy human immune system can distinguish foreign tissues and attempts to destroy them.
Also the reverse situation, called graft-versus-host disease, may take place. Broadly, most chemotherapeutic drugs work by impairing mitosis (cell division), effectively targeting fast-dividing cells.
As these drugs cause damage to cells they are termed cytotoxic.
Some drugs cause cells to undergo apoptosis (so-called "cell suicide").
For more information about the topic Chemotherapy, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:
Pathogen — A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host. The term is most often used for agents that disrupt ... > read more
Psoriasis — Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease which affects the skin and joints. It commonly causes red scaly patches to appear on the skin. The scaly ... > read more
Rheumatoid arthritis — Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. It is a disabling and ... > read more
Immune system — The immune system is the system of specialized cells and organs that protect an organism from outside biological influences. (Though in a broad ... > read moreEditor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Recommend this page on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:
Other bookmarking and sharing tools:
more 