Although nitrogen mustard is not often used today, many drugs of diverse origin, structure, and action are commonly used to treat a wide range of human cancers. However, the fact that they do harm normal cells indicates their great potential for toxicity. Understanding the use of chemotherapy requires a comprehension both of the drugs' mechanisms of action and of the pathophysiology of cancer, which is rooted in deranged cellular and tissue growth.
Chemotherapeutic strategy is based on knowledge of tumor tissue growth.