Anticancer Antibiotics

Question 1

Anthracyclines

Answer 1

Doxorubicin, Daunorubicin.
- Intercalate DNA, Binds cell membrane and generate ROS.
• Doxorubicin: Sarcomas, Breast, Liver, ALL, Lymphomas
• Daunorubicin: ALL, Myelocytic Leukemias
- AE: Irreversible dose-dependent Cardiotoxicity, transient Myelosuppression, severe alopecia, stomatitis

Question 2

Bleomycin

Answer 2

• DNA-Bleomycin-Fe2+ complex + O2 -> ROS -> Scission of DNA.
• Germline cancers, Lymphomas (but not curative)
• AE: pulmonary fibrosis, mucocutaneous reactions, Alopecia, hyperpyrexia

Question 3

Mitomycin C

Answer 3

• Function as alkylating agent to cross link DNA.
• Bladder and rectal cancers
• AE: Severe Myelosuppression, Pulmonary fibrosis, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Question 4

Dactinomycin

Answer 4

• Intercalate DNA to interfere with movement of RNA polymerase
• Used in pediatric tumors. Wilms tumor (w/Vinblastine), Choriocarcinoma (w/MTX)
• AE: Myelotoxicity, Stomatitis, Alopecia