Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 19, 2025

Cell-based Flow Cytometry Assay to Measure Cytotoxic Activity
Published on: December 17, 2013
Defining cytotoxic drugs - you know it when you see it?
Mário L de Lemos1, Nadine Badry1, James Conklin1
1Provincial Pharmacy, 8144BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada.
Abstract:
Safe handling precautions are an important measure used to prevent occupational exposure to hazardous antineoplastic drugs. Historically, the terms 'antineoplastic', 'chemotherapy' and 'cytotoxic' are frequently conflated. However, many current antineoplastic drugs do not have cytotoxic mechanisms of actions, leading to confusion when developing safe handling policies. Based on the mechanistic criteria outlined in this review, we have compiled a list of the most commonly used antineoplastic drugs with their cytotoxic or non-cytotoxic designations. We propose that this list can be used when discussing drug-specific safe handling precaution measures.
More Related Videos
13:59High-Content Screening Assay for the Identification of Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Modifying Compounds
Published on: August 18, 2023
13:19Quantifying Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Tumor Spheroid Model: Application for Drug Discovery
Published on: April 26, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Targets for Drug Action: Overview
Receptors are either membrane-spanning or intracellular proteins, which upon binding a ligand, get activated and transmit the signal downstream to elicit a response. Drugs bind receptors, either mimicking the action of endogenous ligands or blocking the receptor activity to bring about a modified response. Nearly 35% of approved drugs target the G...
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules