Basic Principles of Antineoplastic Therapy

Question 1

cancer/carcinoma

Answer 1

disease characterized by abnormal, uncontrolled cell division; thought to result from damage to genes controlling cell growth

Question 2

telomeres

Answer 2

“extra” repetitive DNA that protects vital sequences of DNA from being destroyed & allow for continued replication; allow cancer cells to divide indefinitely; perpetuated by telomerase

Question 3

angiogenesis

Answer 3

formation of new blood vessels that “feed” tumor cells and allow for an “escape route” for metastasis

Question 4

primary cancer prevention

Answer 4

keeping cancer from ever developing

Question 5

secondary cancer prevention

Answer 5

interventions for discover and control while cancer is small and localized

Question 6

Goals of chemotherapy

Answer 6

Cure (permanent removal of all cancer cells)
Control (prevent growth/spread of tumor)
Palliation (reduction of tumor, easing of pain and other symptoms, & improvement of quality of life)

Question 7

adjuvant chemotherapy

Answer 7

antineoplastic drugs AFTER surgery or radiation to rid the body of any remaining cancer cells

Question 8

neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Answer 8

antineoplastic drugs BEFORE surgery or radiation to shrink size of large tumor to a more manageable size

Question 9

staging

Answer 9

determine WHERE the cancer is and how much it has spread; remains UNCHANGED throughout treatment/disease

Question 10

grading

Answer 10

examining cancer cells under a microscope and comparing their APPEARANCE to normal cells; the more abnormal the cell, the worse the prognosis; can CHANGE over time

Question 11

cell cycle specific drugs

Answer 11

kill the most cancer cells when they are given in divided but frequent doses; best for cancers that have a high proportion of cells dividing at any time; usually not effective against large amounts of resting cells

Question 12

cell cycle nonspecific drugs

Answer 12

can kill cancer cells in any stage of the cell cycle, including the resting stage; may have no effect till cell attempts to divide; given intermediately to give normal cells a chance to recover & work slowly

Question 13

growth fraction

Answer 13

measure of number of cells undergoing mitosis (division); cancer drugs affect many cells like this (skin, GI tract, hair follicles, bone marrow)

Question 14

Cell Kill Hypothesis

Answer 14

theoretical model that predicts the ability of antineoplastic drugs to eliminate a certain % of cancer cells; theory that antineoplastic drugs can lower the burden on the immune system to fight cancer cells

Question 15

Improved Chemotherapy

Answer 15

Use protocols for certain cancers
Multiple chemo drugs + intermittent dosing = improved pt outcomes

Question 16

IV (central line, PICC)

Answer 16

preferred route of chemo administration; disadvantage is sclerosing and increased risk of acquiring infection

Question 17

Nadir

Answer 17

lowest value of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets; caused by myelosuppression in chemotherapy; usually occurs at different time frames (neutrophils first, then platelets, then RBCs)