Classification of anticancer drugs based on mechanism of activity.
| Western Medicine | Target | Traditional Chinese Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic drug | Tumor | Eliminating pathogenic factor |
| Alkylating agents | Promote blood circulation to remove stagnancy | |
| Antibiotics | Eliminate phlegm and resolve masses | |
| Antimetabolites | Clear away heat-toxin | |
| Topoisomerase inhibitors | - | |
| Mitosis inhibitors | - | |
| Others | - | |
| Biological response modifier | Patient | Strengthening the body resistance |
| Cytokines | Supplement vital Qi | |
| Tumor vaccine | Warm Yang | |
| Adoptive immunotherapy | Tonify blood | |
| - | Nourish Yin | |
| Chemosensitizer | Drug | Enhancing effects of chemotherapy |
| Toremifene | Radix Ginseng | |
| Tamoxifen | Radix Stephaniase Tetrandrae | |
| Fluoxetine | Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong | |
| Chemoprotectant | Drug | Detoxication of chemotherapy |
| Mesna | Regulate stomach | |
| Calcium folinate | Tonify blood | |
| Amifostine | - | |
| Dexrazoxane | - | |
| Uracil | - |