Anti-Cancer Drugs Flashcards
Give an example of an aklylating agent.
Cyclophosphamide.
How dooes cyclophosphamide work?
Causes a double strand break in DNA which affects transcription. Affects cancer cells disproportionately due to their rapid replication.
What are some indications for cyclophosphamide?
Lymphomas, leukaemia, myeloma, lung Ca.
Name a specific side effect to cyclophosphamide.
Cystitis - due to metabolites being excreted in the urine which cause irritation.
Name some general side effects of anti-cancer drugs.
Bone marrow suppression:
Neutropenia - infection
Anaemia - tiredness and headache
Thrombocytopenia - bleeding
hair loss
nausea and vomiting
Infertility
Teratogenic
Give an example of a topoisomerase II inhibitor?
Doxorubicin - also known as adriamycin
What are some indications for doxorubicin?
Breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, sarcoma, leukaemia, lymphoma
How does doxorubicin work?
It is an inhibitor of topoisomerase II, which prevents DNA from being replicated.
Topoisomerase II usually causes a double strand break in DNA as it is being unwound to relieve the twisting pressure.
What is a specific side effect of doxorubicin?
Cardiotoxicity - maybe because it kills cardiac stem cells.
Name an antimetabolite chemotherapeutic agent.
Methotrexate
How does methotrexate work?
It is a structural analogue of folic acid. It inhibits dyhydrofolate reductase. This is required by cells as folate metabolism is important in production of thymine.
It can be used in high doses and then ‘reversed’ using folinic acid to rescue normal cells, as cancer cells are affected first due to their disproportionately high growth.
Specific side effects to methotrexate?
Liver and kidney toxicity.
Skin rash.
Name a tubulin binder. How does it work?
Vincristine
Works by binding to tubulin which usually pulls apart chromosomes. This therefore prevents mitosis.
Name a vinca alkaloid?
Vincristine
Name some side effects of vincristine?
Neuropathic pain, severe constipation.
