Anticancer therapy

Question 1

What are six hallmark capabilities of cancer cells? And four emerging hallmarks?

Answer 1

(1) Sustaining proliferative signaling
(2) Evading growth suppressors
(3) Activating invasion and metastasis
(4) Enabling replicative immortality
(5) Inducing angiogenesis
(6) Resisting cell death
(7) Avoiding immune destruction
(8) Tumor-promoting inflammation
(9) Genome instability and mutation
(10) Deregulating cellular energetics

Question 2

What is the mechanism of action of alkylating agents (mechlorethamine/nitrogen mustard)?

Answer 2

(1) Activation reaction by nucleophilic attack, generates carbonium ion intermediate
(2) Alkylation of N7 of guanine, affecting DNA crosslinking

Question 3

What group is responsible for the biological activity of nitrogen mustard alkylators?

Answer 3

Bis-(2-chloroethyl) group - generates carbonium ion