Cancer 3- Principles of Cancer TX Flashcards
Aoife
Principles of Cancer Tx
Tx if cancer localised (2)
- Surgical removal
- Tx with drug or radiation tx to kill residual cancer
Principles of Cancer Tx
What would an ideal cancer tx be
One that removed all the cancer cells without affecting normal cells
Principles of Cancer Tx
What are txs based upon (2)
- Killing cancer cells
- Preventing further growth of tumour
Principles of Cancer Tx
What is the best approach
Surgical removal of a tumour mass
Principles of Cancer Tx
Limitations of surgical removal as a tx
- Cancers of blood (leukaemias) not amenable to surgeries
- Same true for cancers that have metastasised to inaccessible sites like bone and brain
Principles of Cancer Tx
What tx is widely used in addition/alternatively to surgery
Drug tx
Principles of Cancer Tx
What is the cytostatic effect
The prevention of cell proliferation
Principles of Cancer Tx
What is the cytotoxic effect
The killing of cancer cells
Principles of Cancer Tx
What does chemo having a broad cell specificity mean
It effects all cell processes such as DNA synthesis and cell proliferation common to all cells
Principles of Cancer Tx
What is the disadvantage of chemo having broad cell specificity
Side effects ensue.
Fast growing cells targeted -> hair and taste loss
Principles of Cancer Tx
What cancers (2) are hormone txs used to treat and why
- Prostate
- Breast
Hormone txs effect the growth of cells in these cancers
Principles of Cancer Tx
Explain the principle of radiotherapy being used
DNA can be irreversably damaged by ionizing radiation such as X rays which are used in radiotherapy tx along w surgery
Principles of Cancer Tx
What will cytotoxic drugs do
Potentially cure the patient
Principles of Cancer Tx
What will cytostatic drugs do
Prevent growth but not eliminate the cancer
Principles of Cancer Tx
How would the future tx of angiogenic drugs do?
They would prevent angiogenesis and therefore prevent metastatic growth
Principles of Cancer Tx
What are some prognostic factors
Prognostic factors to assess prognosis:
1. Tumour size
2. Tumour spread
3. Tumour markers in the tissue or blood associated with the tumour
Principles of Cancer Tx
Remission
Decline in cancer size as a result of tx
Principles of Cancer Tx
Relapse
Reappearance of a cancer