Antineoplastic basics Flashcards
describe the 3 mechanisms of oncogene formation
- POINT MUTATION = change in amino acid in a regulatory region of the protein
–> can cause hyperactivated or resistant to normal degradative mechanisms
- Chromosomal translocation = results in fusion of two genes
–> protein product of fusion gene can have increased activity
- Proto-oncogene is duplicated or amplified, causing the formation of many extra chromosomal copies
describe first-order killing of cancer cells
- chemotherapy often causes elimination of fixed percentage of cells. often called logarithmic killing
- the chemotherapeutic agents needed to kill 99% of the tumor cell is quite toxic to othe rapidly growing cells.
–> thus the next dose often cannot be administer right away allowing cancer cells to continue to proliferate between doses
desribe the 4 goals of the cancer drug therapy
- Curative intent = drug therapy is used to cure
- adjuvant therapy = drug therapy is given after the primary tx (surgery) to decrease the chances that cancer will return
- neoadjuvant therapy = given as a first step to shrink the tumor before the primary tx (usually surgery)
- Palliative care = temporary improvement of quality of life by reducing symptoms
describe the general mechanisms of resitance to chemotherapeutic agents
- tumor cells have genetic instability, which allows them to acquire mutations that allow them to become resistant to chemotherapy
–> gene duplication of the multi-drug resistance transporter can cause cells to survive multiple chemotherapeutic agents by pumping them out of the cell.
what criteria is need to pass from G1/S
- are cell nutrition, size and environment favorable?
- is all DNA intact
what criteria is required for cells to pass from G2/M
- is DNA compeletly replicated
describe the criteria required for cells to pass from metaphase/anaphase
- is all DNA intact
- are all chromosomes attached to mitotic spindles
