Alkylating and Platinating Agents

Abstract

Alkylating agents form the backbone of many anticancer regimens and are used in both conventional and high-dose therapy settings. The biologic and chemical activities of the nitrogen mustards were studied extensively between the World Wars. Because of their vesicant activity on the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, the mustards also were studied for their effects on lymphosarcomas in mice during World War II. This led to the start of clinical studies, in 1942, and kicked off the era of modern cancer chemotherapy [1].