Cancer Pharmacology Flashcards
What is systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT)?
Refers to all drugs (irrespective of route of administration) with direct ant-tumor activity, including cytotoxic chemotherapy
What is cancer?
A condition where cells grow and reproduce uncontrollably
State the key differences between normal and cancer cells
Normal cells are subject to strict control whereas Cancer cells are autonomous - they do not demonstrate normal cell control
Normal cells: • Reproduce themselves exactly • Stop reproducing at the right time • Stick together in the right place • Self destruct if they are damaged • Become specialised or 'mature'
Define apoptosis
Programmed cell death
What word defines “programmed cell death”?
apoptosis
Define Angiogenesis
formation of new blood vessels
in the case of cancer, this formation allows tumours to spread.
What term defines the process of “forming new blood vessels”?
angiogenesis
Define metastasis
development of secondary malignant growths at a distance from a primary site of cancer.
What term defines the development of secondary malignant growths at a distance from a primary site of cancer?
metastasis
List some ant-cancer treatments.
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Cytotoxic chemotherapy
- Immuno-oncology or immunotherapies
What are the factors that explain higher susceptibility of malignant cancer cells than normal cells to toxic effects of chemotherapy?
– They can reproduce more rapidly than many
normal cells
– The proportion of tumour cells dividing at any
one time is often higher than that in normal
tissue
– Cancer cells often repair less well than normal
cells when injured
What is cytotoxic chemotherapy?
an interventional cancer treatment which involves introducing agents into the body to slow or stop the growth of cell. induces cell death
How do do cytotoxic drugs lead to the destruction of cancer cells?
(1) interfering with cellular replication
(2) inducing programmed cell death or
cell senescence through cell injury or
other mechanisms
in the context of cancer treaments, what is primary treatment?
An treament intervention which aims to completely remove the cancer or kill any cancer cells
common primary treatment includes surgery
What type of treatment aims to completely remove the cancer or kill any cancer cells?
primary treatment
In the context of cancer treaments, what is adjuvant treatment?
intervention which aims to kill any cancer cells that may remain after primary treatment in order to reduce the chance that the cancer will recur.
What type of treatment aims to kill any cancer cells that may remain after primary treatment in order to reduce the chance that the cancer will recur?
adjuvant treatment
In the context of cancer treaments, what is neo-adjuvant treatment?
Treatment given as a first step to shrink a tumor before the main treatment, which is usually surgery, is given
What treatment is given as a first step to shrink a tumor before the main treatment, which is usually surgery, is given?
neo adjuvant treatment
In the context of cancer treaments, what is single therapy?
The use of a singe treatment to remove the cancer
What type of therapy uses a single treatment to remove the cancer?
single therapy
In the context of cancer treaments, what is combination therapy?
the amalgamation of therapeutic agents in order to enhanceefficacy of drugs at killing cancer cells.
What type of therapy amalgamates therapeutic agents in order to enhance ef the drugs?
combination therapy
In the context of cancer treaments, what is mult-modal therapy?
Therapy which combines more than one method of treatment
What type of therapy combines multiple methods of treatment?
multi-modal therapy
What is Cell cycle specific chemotherapy?
Cancer killing drugs which targets cancer cell which are dividing
What type of chemo targets cancer cells when they are dividing?
cell-cycle specific
What is Cell cycle phase specific chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy which targets going through a specific phace with the cell division cycle.
What type of tumors is cell-cycle phase specific chemotherapy effective on?
It is most effective against tumours that have a large proportion of cells actively moving through the cell cycle and cycling at a fast rate
What is Cell cycle non- specific chemotherapy?
Chemo which targets cancer cells regardless of what phase of cell division they are in.
What type of chemo targets cancer cells regardless of what phase of cell division they are in/
Cell cycle non- specific chemotherapy
What type of chemo are effective on slow growing tumours?
Cell cycle non- specific chemotherapy
What type of tumors is cell-cycle non specific chemotherapy effective on?
slow growing tumours
What type of chemo is effctive on tumours that have a large proportion of cells actively moving through the cell cycle and cycling at a fast rate?
cell cycle specific chemo
What are the aims of combining cytotoxic chemotherapy
- Enhance the cytotoxic effect of each agent
- Ensure a broader range of coverage
- Prevent single agent high dose toxicity
- To reduce chances of multi-drug resistance
• Give better response rates and long term
remission (cancer-free)
Why do we schedule chemotherapy into regular treatment cycles?
Allows the cancer cells to be attacked at their most vulnerable times, and allows the body’s normal cells time to recover from the damage.
Why are there so many side-effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy?
It is a combination of several different cytotoxic drug, each with it’s own side effects
What factors affect severity of chemotherapy side-effects?
Specific chemotherapeutic agent • Dose • Administration schedule • Route of administration • Patient genetic factors • Pre-existing illnesses
- What is bone marrow suppression?
The reduced production of leukocytes, erythrocytes and blood clotting factors - all of which are integral for immunity
