Cancer Chemotherapy Pharmacology

Question 1

Define cancer

Answer 1

uncontrolled growth and spread within the body of abnormal forms of body’s own cells

Question 2

List some common causes of cell mutations that can lead to tumours

Answer 2

chemicals, viruses, radiation, genetics

Question 3

Why is cancer a disease of aging?

Answer 3

more accumulation of mutations as people age results in increased chance of out of control cells

Question 4

Compare the proto-oncogene and oncogene

Answer 4

proto-oncogene is potentially cancer causing but is not activated, mutation turns it into oncogene which supports constant cell proliferation -> cancer

Question 5

What cells do tumours contain?

Answer 5

tumour cells, immune cells and vascular cells

Question 6

list the different types of cancer treatment

Answer 6

surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, precision therapy

Question 7

What genes does uncontrolled proliferation involve?

Answer 7

oncogenes and ineffective tumour suppressors

Question 8

define cytotoxic anti-cancer drug class

Answer 8

toxic to cells, effects DNA, non-specifically kills dividing cells

Question 9

define hormonal anti-cancer drug class

Answer 9

acts as physiological agonist, antagonists or hormone synthesis inhibitors to disrupt hormone dependant tumour growth, non-cytotoxic

Question 10

List some common cytotoxic drug types

Answer 10

alkylating agents, antimetabolites, cytotoxic antibiotics, tubulin binding drugs

Question 11

List some common non-cytotoxic drugs

Answer 11

antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, hormonal anti-cancer drugs

Question 12

Explain the MOA of antimetabolites

Answer 12

antimetabolites block metabolic pathways involved in DNA/RNA synthesis so tumour can’t build new DNA/cells

Question 13

Explain the MOA of cytotoxic antibiotics

Answer 13

cytotoxic ABs prevent cell division via multiple effects on DNA/RNA synthesis, bind to DNA, inhibit topoisomerase enzyme

Question 14

Explain the MOA of tubulin binding drugs

Answer 14

tubulin binding drugs interfere with microtubule function which is essential for cell division and transport, they inhibit spindle formation

Question 15

Explain the MOA of antibodies

Answer 15

inhibit signalling of GF or GF receptors, bind to agonist/receptors to increase receptor internalisation = termination of signalling and targeting for destruction

Question 16

Explain the MOA of tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Answer 16

inhibit protein kinases involved in GF receptor signalling reducing growth, spread and division

Question 17

Explain the MOA of hormonal anti-cancer drugs

Answer 17

suppress hormone synthesis/secretion and antagonise hormone action in hormone dependent tumours

Question 18

List the common symptoms of cytotoxic drugs

Answer 18

bone marrow toxicity, GIT lining damage, nausea, vomiting, alopecia, neurotoxicity, numbness/tingling

Question 19

List some problems that can occur during pharmacological cancer treatment

Answer 19

resistance due to kinetic and dynamic changes
limited efficacy as drugs need to be matched to patient and specific cancer
SEs
increased chance of infection if bone marrow toxicity occurs

Question 20

Explain the MOA of alkylating agents

Answer 20

form intra-strand covalent bonds in DNA impeding transcription and replication leading to apoptosis