Chemotherapeutic agents undergo two main phases of metabolism:
Phase I Metabolism: This phase involves oxidative, reductive, and hydrolytic reactions, primarily mediated by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. These reactions introduce or expose functional groups, rendering the drugs more polar and often less active. Phase II Metabolism: Conjugation reactions occur in this phase, such as glucuronidation, sulfonation, and acetylation, facilitated by transferase enzymes. These reactions further increase the solubility of the drugs, facilitating their excretion.
