Cancer chemotherapy

Question 1

What are advantages to chemotherapy?

Answer 1

Eliminates micro-mestasteses

Question 2

What are disadvantages of chemotherapy?

Answer 2

Lacks selective toxicity. It’s cytotoxic to normal cells.

Question 3

What is alopecia?

Answer 3

Hair falling out

Question 4

Anti-cancer drugs kill cells according to what?

Answer 4

first order kinetics.

Question 5

Reasons why giving chemo has lesser cell kill than theoretical?

Answer 5

• Toxicity: bone marrow suppression so treatment may have to be delayed for blood count to recover.
• Drug resistance: nearly always develps.
• Tumour growth characteristics: As tumor grows, cells are dormant and hard to kill.

Question 6

What are CCS agents?

Answer 6

Cell cycle specific agents.

They act during a certain phase in the cycle. G0 seems to be unaffected

Question 7

Examples of CCS agents?

Answer 7

Antimetabolites - methotrexate (Stop DNA synthesis)
Antimicrotubules - vinca alkaloids (induce metaphase arrest)
Podophyllin alkaloids - etopside (inhibit topoisomerase causing damage)

Question 8

What are CCNS agents?

Answer 8

cell cycle non specific agents. Kill both dividing and G0 cells.

Question 9

Examples of CCNS agents?

Answer 9

Alkylating agents
Anthracycline antibiotics
Platinum drugs
Hormonal agents

Question 10

What are the 4 mechanisms of resistance?

Answer 10

1. Enhanced expression/alteration of target
2. Incr. production of glutathione (GSH) - inactivates drug and aids in elimination
3. Incr. repair capacity for DNA damage
4. Incr. expression of P-glycoprotein efflux pump (actively pumps out dru)

Question 11

What is the best combination to over come resistance?

Answer 11

Use maximum tolerated does at the outset - initial aggressive therapy.