Cancer Chemo Principles Flashcards
Cancer chemotherapeutic agents kill by what order kinetics? Describe what this is
Kills by First Order Kinetics
- a given dose kills a constant percentage of cells, NOT a constant number
- if an agent kills 99.9% of tumor volume
- 106 –> 10 <span>3</span>
- 103–> 100
- this means that the same dose which decreases the tumor burden from ^6 to ^3 will be needed to decrease the burden from ^3 to ^0
Definition of growth fraction. What are the implications of it?
Growth fraction:
- proportion of cancer cells that are actively proliferating/dividing at a given point of time
- represents dividing cells sensitive to chemotherapy
- a higher growth fraction causes more cancer cells to be killed when they are exposed to specific drug
Definition of mass doubling time
Mass doubling time:
- time required for a mass to double its volume
- 1/growth fraction
- dependent on the number of dividing cells
- inversely proportional to growth fraction, so tumors with shorter mass doubling times = more amendable to chemo
Gompertzian Growth Curve
Over time, the growth fraction of the tumors **decreases **such that the peak growth rate occurs before the tumor is detectable
growth fraction is only about 1-4% when tumor is detectable
What is the rationale for debulking and adjunct chemotherapy?
debulking= surgical removal of part of malignant tumor which cannot be completely excised, to help enhance effectiveness of chemo
This is done due to concept of Gompertzien growth curve: over time, growth fraction of the tumors decreases. That way, in doing surgery first, there are smaller cells left that are more likely to be proliferating and growing more, thus more responsive to chemo
Mechanism of action of methotrexate
Methotrexate is an antimetabolite:
Folic acid analog: inhibits dihydrofolate reductase –> decreases dTMP –> decreases DNA and protein synthesis
recall DHF reductase converts dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate
Major side effect of methotrexate
- myelosuppression, which is reversible with leuocovorin (folonic aid)
- bone marrow
- hepatic
- nephrotoxicity
- **stomatitis **(inflammation of mouth and lips)
- gastrointestinal
- macrovesicular fatty change in liver
- mucositis
- teratogenic
Major side effects of Cisplatin/Carboplatin (alkylating agent)
- nephrotoxicity
- hypomagnesemia (goes together with hypocalcemia and hypokalemia, get decrease in PTH release)
- ototoxicity
- neurotoxicity (stocking and glove sensorimotor neuropathy)
- intensely emetogenic (vomiting inducing)
Major side effects of Vincristine/Vinblastine (antimitotic agents)
- peripheral and autonomic neuropathy
- vinblastine myelosuppression
Major side effects of Daunorubicin/Doxorubicin (antitumor antibiotics, anthracyclines)
- myelosuppression
- cardiomyopathy
Major side effects of Bleomycin (antitumor antibiotic)
- pulmonary toxicity, may progress to pulmonary fibrosis
- little myelosuppression
What type of malignancies are hormonal therapies used for?
Hormonally regulated organs. Used in breast, prostate, ovarian, and uterine malignancies
In breast cancer, list the main drug that is a selective estrogen receptor modulator
Tamoxifen
In breast cancer, list the 2 main aromatase inhibitors. What step is this and where does it occur?
- Exemestane, Anastrazole
- occur outside the nucleus: aromatase convert androstenedione and testosterone into oestrone and cestradiol before entering the nucleus and binding to estrogen receptors.
List the 3 main types of targeted therapies for prostate cancer
- LHRH analog (leuprolide)
- Androgen receptor inhibitors (bicalutamide, enzalutamide)
- 17-a hydroxylase/C17,20 lyase inhibitor (abiraterone)
Hormone therapy toxicities:
Tamoxifen (breast) (7)
blood clots, stroke, uterine cancer, cataracts, hot flashes, joint pain, leg cramps
Hormone therapy toxicities:
Exemestane (breast) (3)
Anastrazole (4)
Exemestane: hot flashes, arthralgies, osteoporosis
Anastrazole: hot flashes, arthralgies, fractures, cataracts
Hormone therapy toxicities:
Leuprolide (prostate) (5)
-hot flashes, impotence, weakness, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis (LHRH analog, lowering their testoering levels so low)
Hormone therapy toxicities:
Bicalutamide (prostate) (5)
-hot flashes, weakness, liver failure, arthralgias, edema
Hormone therapy toxicities:
Abiraterone (prostate) (4)
-arthralgies, edema, diarrhea, hypokalemia
4 main types of immunotherapy
- monoclonal antibodies
- vaccines
- immunomodulatory drugs
- checkpoint blockade
two main types of immunomodulatory drugs
- IL-2/interferon
- thalidomide and derivatives