Cancer drug classes

Question 1

How do alkylating agents work?

Answer 1

Small molecule

They substitute alkyl groups for hydrogen atoms in the DNA so the cells can’t repair themselves = preventing cell division and replication = cell dies

Question 2

Advantages of using alkylating agents?

Answer 2

They block the replication of cells in any phase of the cell cycle so can target slow-dividing/growing cancers

Very effective

Question 3

Disadvantages of using alkylating agents?

Answer 3

They do not differentiate between cancer cells and normal cells = toxic to all cells = lots of unpleasant effects

Increased risk of bone marrow damage especially at high doses

Question 4

Examples of alkylating agents

Answer 4

Nitrogen mustards
Alkyl sulfonates
Triazines

Question 5

How do antimetabolites work?

Answer 5

They are similar in structure to a metabolite or enzymatic substrate so competes with or inhibits the metabolite

Question 6

Advantages of antimetabolites?

Answer 6

The drugs do kill cancer

Question 7

Disadvantages of antimetabolites?

Answer 7

Don’t differentiate between cancer cells and healthy cells
Lots of side effects
Resistance

Question 8

Examples of antimetabolites?

Answer 8

5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine

Question 9

How do biologics work?

Answer 9

Trigger your body’s natural response to fighting cancer = stimulate your body to spot cancer cells and attack them

Can attack directly and interfere with growth signals

Question 10

Advantages of biologics?

Answer 10

May work when other treatments don’t
Targets just your immune system not all cells in your body
Fewer side effects
Transport other drugs to site of action (antibody-drug conjugate)

Question 11

Disadvantages of biologics?

Answer 11

It may cause your immune system to attack organs
Doesn’t work for everyone
May have a bad reaction (itching, swelling)
Expensive
Long treatment process

Question 12

Examples of biologics

Answer 12

Cetuximab
Alemtuzumab
Rituximab

Question 13

How do natural products work?

Answer 13

Antimicrotubule drugs - prevent microtubule function by preventing formation or disassembly (blocks the mitotic stage and growth of cancer)

Question 14

Advantages of natural products? (from a drug development perspective)

Answer 14

Small
Easy to manufacture
Structurally diverse = overcome resistance
Complex structure = allows for more selective binding to targets
Easy availability
More likely to be novel compared to synthetic compounds
Good biological activity

Question 15

Disadvantages of natural products? (from a drug development perspective)

Answer 15

More time consuming
More costly
May be less sustainable
May work differently than expected once isolated from their source

Question 16

Advantages of hormones?

Answer 16

Effective treatment

Question 17

Examples of hormones

Answer 17

Tamoxifen
Anastrozole
Bicalutamide

Question 18

Advantages of hormones?

Answer 18

Effective treatment

Selective to the cancer cells

Question 19

Disadvantages of hormones?

Answer 19

Increase in side effects

Question 20

How do cytotoxic antibiotics work?

Answer 20

Inhibit topoisomerase II

Produce free radicals that damage DNA

Question 21

Examples of cytotoxic antibiotics?

Answer 21

DNA intercalators
Doxorubicin
Mitomycin C

Question 22

Advantages of topoisomerase inhibitors?

Answer 22

Effective?

Question 23

Disadvantages of topoisomerase inhibitors?

Answer 23

Dose-limiting toxicity

Question 24

How do kinase inhibitors work?

Answer 24

Stop the production of new blood vessels which are required for growth (inhibits angiogenesis and tumour growth signalling)

Small molecule

Question 25

Advantages of using synthetic drug sources? (from a drug development point of view)

Answer 25

Less time consuming
Less costly
May be more sustainable