What common aspect do antimetabolites and alkylating agents have in chemotherapy?

Antimetabolites and alkylating agents share the common characteristic of interfering with DNA, which is a crucial aspect of their mechanism of action in chemotherapy.

Antimetabolites mimic the building blocks of DNA or RNA, disrupting the synthesis process as cells replicate and divide. For example, drugs like methotrexate inhibit the synthesis of folate, which is essential for nucleotide production, while purine and pyrimidine analogs interfere with DNA synthesis directly.

Alkylating agents, on the other hand, attach alkyl groups to DNA, leading to cross-linking of DNA strands. This cross-linking prevents proper DNA replication and transcription, ultimately inducing cell death, particularly in rapidly dividing cancer cells.

The combination of these mechanisms emphasizes the importance of targeting DNA in cancer therapies, as uncontrolled cell division is fundamental to tumor growth. Recognizing this shared property helps in understanding the broader framework of chemotherapy and the specific actions of various drug classes.