Antineoplastic therapy - Antimetabolites Flashcards
Name the folic acid analogs
Methotrexate
Trimetrexate
Pemetrexed
Pralatrexate (T cell lymphoma)
Name the pyrimidine analogs
5-Fluorouracil Floxuridine Capecitabine 5-Azacitidine Cytarabine
Name the purine analogs
Mercaptopurine Fludarabine Cladribine Thioguanine Pentostatin Clofarabine Nelarabine
Describe antimetabolites as a whole group
All are structural analogs of naturally occurring bases or intermediates
They inhibit enzymes or substitute for naturally occurring purines/pyrimidines
They have cytotoxic effects during S phase and impaired nucleotide synthesis in G1
What causes resistance in antimetabolites?
Gene amplification of enzymes that are inhibited
Production of target enzymes with less affinity for the drug
Which drug produced the first (temporary) remission of Leukemia?
Methotrexate
Which drug produced the first cure of a solid tumor?
Methotrexate
Besides cancer, what else is Methotrexate used for?
Immunosuppressant in rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and transplants
It inhibits cell-mediated immune reactions, so you use low doses in the things listed above
What is the MOA of Methotrexate?
It is an analog for folic acid so it competes for dihydrofolate reductase, which is an enzyme that converts dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate
This reaction is responsible for the transfer of carbon groups in synthesis of THYMIDINE, CYSTEINE, and METHIONINE
Describe the pharmacokinetics of Methotrexate
It is actively transported into the cell (cancer cells more than normal cells!)
MTX is reduced in the cells to trap them (polyglutamate synthetase adds glutamyl residues)
Pralatrexate and pemetrexed the residues are added faster to lock into the cell
Does Methotrexate have a rescue
Yes - Leucovorin rescue
Leucovorin is converted into N5N10-methylene-FH4 in normal cells (ie bone marrow, kidney) to reduce the side effects
How is Methotrexate administered?
Oral, IV
Indications for Methotrexate
ALL in children (limited value in adults)
Choriocarcinoma, breast, head and neck, bladder, trophoblastic tumor in women, osteosarcoma, CNS lymphomas
Adverse effects of Methotrexate?
GI and oral epithelial ulceration (sores in mouth)
Bone marrow suppression
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hepatotoxicity, alopecia
Teratogenic!!! It’s been used with Misoprostol as abortifacient
Must monitor renal function bc it is actively secreted into the proximal tubule
MULTIPLE BLACK BOX WARNINGS: Hepatic disease, pregnancy, pulmonary disease, infections (bc suppresses immune system)
Describe the MOA of Pemetrexed
Converted to poly-glutamated form, rapidly transported, inhibits BOTH thymidylate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase
Indications for Pemetrexed
It has activity against mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancer
It’s better than methotrexate in colon cancer
Toxicities for Pemetrexed
Similar to MTX
Rash in 40% of patients, skin reactions
SEVERE bone marrow suppression, GI
Neuropathy
Describe the structure of 5-Fluorouracil
Uracil with a fluorine in position 5 of the uracil ring
It is attached to ribose/deoxyribose to form fdUMP
Precursor to thymidine!
Describe the structure of Cytarabine
Cytosine analog in which natural ribose is replaced by D-arabinose
How do pyrimidine analogs work?
They are activated by tumor cell enzymes, decrease the activity of DNA polymerase (?) and are incorporated into DNA
Describe the MOA of 5-fluorouracil
5-FU is attached to ribose/deoxyribose to form fdUMP
fdUMP competes with dUMP to inhibit thymidine synthetase, reducing thymidine production for DNA synthesis and RNA synthesis.
Does 5-fluorouracil have a rescue?
NO.
Leucovorin POTENTIATES toxicity of 5-FU in cancer cells lacking tetrahydrofolate
How is 5-fluorouracil administered?
IV and Topical
Short half life
Infused over 5 days to get cells in S phase bc it is cell cycle specific