Cancer drugs Flashcards
Alkylating agents
mechlorethamine (mustargen), Cyclophosphamide (cytoxan), Cisplatin (platinol), Carmustine (BCNU) and Lomustine (CCNU).
Alkylating agents characteristics
Alkylate the DNA (bind it) and cause miscoding, breakage or crosslinking. Vesicants (caustic)
Mechlorethamine (mustargen) Characteristics
Alkylating agent
Mechlorethamine (mustargen) toxicity
Hyperuricema which can be treated by alkalizing the urine and trapping it.
Cyclophosphamide (cytoxan) characteristics
Alkylating agent. MOST important cancer drug. Broad spectrum. Needs to be activated by CYP450s so don’t use with an inhibitor. Not vesicant so can be taken orally.
Cyclophosphamide (cytoxan) toxicity
Hemmorrhagic cystitis (treated with MESNA to bind the by product acrolene and hydration), inappropriate ADH secretion (water toxicity).
Cisplatin (platinol) Characteristics
Alkylating agent. crosslinks the DNA and makes cells more sensitive to radiation.
Testicular cancer DOC
Cisplatin (platinol)
Cisplatin (platinol) toxicity
acoustic nerve damage and anaphylaxis.
Carmustine (BCNU), Lomustine (CCNU) characteristics
Alkylating agents. Nitrosoureas. Highly lipid soluble. Effective for brain cancer (crosses the BBB) and GI cancers.
Carmustine (BCNU), Lomustine (CCNU) toxicity
PROFOUND myelosuppression.
Antimetabolites
Methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine (purinethol), 5-flourouracil (5-FU).
Methotrexate MOA
antimetabolite. inhibits dihydrofolate reductase to reduce the amount of folic acid and thymidylate to block DNA/RNA/protein synthesis.
Methotrexate characteristics
Give a large dose to “slam” the tumor then rescue the other cells by giving leucovorin which bypasses the blockade.
Methotrexate toxicity
hepatotoxic (chronic use), pulmonary damage.
6-mercaptopurine (purinethol) MOA
antimetabolite. guanine analogue
6-mercaptopurine (purinethol) characteristics
metabolized by xanthine oxidase. If used with allopurinol to reduce hyperuricemia (xanthine oxidase inhibitor) the toxicity will increase. Have to lower the dose if given with allopurinol.
6-mercaptopurine (purinethol) toxicity
Jaundice, interacts with allopurinol.
5-fluorouracil (5-FU) MOA
Antimetabolite. inhibits thymidylate synthase and blocks DNA synthesis directly. Cell cycle specific to G1 and S phases.
5-fluorouracil (5-FU) characterisitics
Leucovorin increases it’s response because FH4 is needed to form thymidylate synthase complex.
5-fluorouracil (5-FU) uses
broad spectrum. solid tumors and BCC
Antibiotics used with cancer
Doxorubicin (adriamycin), Bleomycin (blenoxane).