Antimitotics, Immune modulators, drugs that interfere with protein function, and differentiating agents Flashcards
What are the three chemical types of antimitotics?
- vinca alkaloids
- taxanes
- epilone
What are the three vinca alkaloids we know/
vincrinstine, vinblastine, vinorelbine
What are the three taxels we know?
Paclitaxel, Cabazitaxel, and Docetaxel
What’s the one epilone we know?
ixabepilone
What’s the mechanism of action for the vinca alkaloids?
They bind to tubuling at the forming end of microtubules and terminate spindle assembly
How does resistance develop against the vinca alkaloids/
decreased accumulation via increased P-glyc (MDR - natural products)
changes in target proteins: mutations to tubulin
note: cross reactivity among vinca alkaloids is not absolute
What are the two general side effects caused by the vinca alkaloids? Which is worse: vinblastine or vincristine?
bone marrow supression and neurotoxicity
vinblastine = bone marrow suppression vincristine = neurotoxicity
How does the neurotoxicity present? Why does it occur?
Occurs because microtubules are necessaryf or axonal transport
present with loss of reflexes, constipation, paralytic ileus, orthostatic hypotension, and sensory paresthesias
What neurotoxicity sign is actually used as an indication of sufficient dose for vincristine?
suppression of DTRs (but decrease dose it this is followed by severe paresthesias and mild to moderate sensory loss)
What’s the mechanism of action fot he taxanes and how does it differ from that of the vinca alkaloids?
They also bind to tubulin, but unlike the vinca alkaloids, they enhance and stabilize the spindle assembly (which means they can’t continue through mitosis)
How does resistance develop for the taxanes?
decreased accumulation via increased P glycoprotein expression (MDR)
There is extensive elimination and metabolism of the taxanes via what process?
CYP 450 metabolism and hepatobiliary excretion (so liver function is critical)
What’s the main worrisome side effect of the taxanes?
hypersensitivity reactions (but also BMS, peripheral neuropathy, N/V, hypotension and arrhythmias)
Why is ixabepilone an excellent option in a patient with breast cancer who has failed anthracycline antibiotics and taxane treatments?
It’s not a natural product and therefore doesn’t produce multi-drug resistance unlike the others!
What’s the mechanism of action for ixabepilon?
similar to palitaxel - it’s an antibiotic that binds to tubulin and enhances and stabilizes spindle assembly
What is ixabepilone often used in conjunction with?
capecitabine (for metastatic breast cancer)
What are the three general classes of drugs that target the immun system for antineoplastic therapy?
- immunosupressive agents
- immune system stimulants
- hematopoietic factors (supporting agents)
What are the three general types of immunosuppressive agents?
- glucocorticoides
- antibiotics
- antibodies
What are two glucocorticoids used for treatment of cancer?
dexatheasone and predisone
What’s the general mechanism of action for the glucocorticoids?
- interfere with the concentration, distribution and function of leukocytes (increases concentration of neutrophils but decrease everything else basically)
- end result is decrease in cytokine release - like IL-2 and TNF-alpha
- Decreases size of lymph nodes and spleen
What’s the caveat to using the glucocorticoids? Aka…what’s necessary in the tumor cells for these to work?
they need to express the requisit receptors - so they’ll only work in prednisone-sensitive lymphomas
How are the glucocorticoids dosed for cancer treatment in comparison to their other uses?
they’re used in much higher doses using a “pulse’ regimen
What are 4 antibiotics that are used for immunosuppression? WHen are they used?
cyclosporine and tacrolimus (anti-rejection post bone marrow transplant)
Everolimus and temsirolimus (angiogenesis inhibitors)
What’s the mechanism of action for cyclosporine and tacrolimus?
bind to cytoplasmic proteins and inhibit calcineurin, which is necessary for activation of NFAT - a T cell-specific transcription factor involved in the sysntehsis of interleukins (so you get a decrease in IL-2)