Cytotoxicmeans that a substance or process can damage cells or cause them to die.
“Cyto” means cell and “toxic” means poison.
You might hear the word when talking aboutchemotherapy drugsthat kill cancer cells.
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It can also describe othertoxins like venomfrom snakes.
This article will go over the different types of cytotoxic substances.
You will also learn how to protect yourself from something that is cytotoxic.
Cytotoxic Drugs
An example of a cytotoxic medication is chemotherapy, which acts oncancer cells.
The drugs work on cells that are growing very fast.
That’s whychemotherapy regimensusually include acombination of drugsand the cycles of treatment have to be repeated.
Cytostatic medications stop cell division and growth but do not directly cause cells to die.
Chemotherapy drugs are made to kill all the cells that are growing fasteven normal cells.
However, not all drugs that treat cancer are cytotoxic.
New treatments liketargeted therapiesand immunotherapies are not cytotoxic.
Instead, they work by getting in the way of a cancer cell’s growth.
They can also use the immune system to fight cancerous cells.
An example of this pop in of treatment is CAR-T therapy.
Cytotoxic Agents in Humans and Animals
Cytotoxic substances can also be found in humans and animals.
Cytotoxic T-cells
Our bodies make cytotoxic T-cells, also called cytotoxicT-lymphocytes.
These types ofT-cells, search for, find, and destroy cells that are infected by viruses.
They can also kill cancer cells.
These treatments work in different ways.
Cytotoxic Venom
Humans are not the only creatures that have cytotoxic T-cells.
For example,venomsfound in vipers, cobras, and violin spiders are cytotoxic.
Recap
Cytotoxic substances are harmful to cells.
Cytotoxic medications, like chemotherapy drugs, are made to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.
Other cytotoxic substances are found in nature, like venom from some snakes.
Your body even produces its own cytotoxic cells that are a key player in your immune system.
Mechanism of Action
Cytotoxic agents can kill cells in a few ways.
An agent may weaken a cell’s membrane, which usually makes the cell explode (called lysis).
Some agents make cells stop growing and dividing.
There are also agents that work onthe DNAinside cells.
These aregenotoxic, rather than cytotoxic, substances.
Cytotoxic vs. Genotoxic
It’s easy to confuse the terms “cytotoxic” and “genotoxic.”
Cytotoxic means a substance causes damage to cells.
Genotoxic means a substance directly damages the DNA in cells.
When DNA is damaged, it may or may not die.
A cell with damaged DNA is said to have mutations.
If the mutated cells don’t get fixed, it can lead to cancer and non-cancer diseases.
Cytotoxic drugs can kill cells or stop them from growing and dividing.
Genotoxic drugs cause damage to the DNA inside the cells.
Carcinogens damage DNA in cells.
This causes mutations that can lead to cancer.
Mutagenic substances can harm the genes in a developing fetus.
Many of theside effects from chemotherapyare related to this process.
Taking Precautions
People who work with cytotoxic medications or substances need to be very careful.
The specific steps they need to take depend on how they might be exposed to a substance.
Cytotoxicity Testing
Cytotoxicity testing helps people stay safe where they live and work.
It also helps companies ensure that products like medical devices are safe.
Many manufacturers use cytotoxicity testing, including those that make drugs and cosmetics.
Plant products used for extracts are also tested for toxicity.
People who handle cytotoxic substances need to be very careful.
Summary
Cytotoxic substances damage or kill cells.
Medications like chemotherapy are cytotoxic.
The venom produced by some animals can be cytotoxic.
Even some of the cells in your body are considered cytotoxic.
People who have to handle cytotoxic substances need to be very careful.
Since these substances harm cells, they can increase the risk of cancer.
They can also have negative effects on a fetus.
The word means that a substance can damage or kill cells.
However, these substances also occur in nature.
Your body even makes its own cytotoxic substances that help your immune system fight.
It’s important to understand how cytotoxic substances work because they are dangerous.
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