Cancer Treatment Flashcards
Goal of cancer treatment
Kill every CA cell and produce a cure
what if cancer can not be cured
control growth
offer palliation
Cell cycle
G0 - Rest phase
G1 - Cell growth
S - DNA synthesis
G2 - Prepare to divide
M – Mitosis (division)
what is the Growth fraction
ratio of proliferating cells to rest cells
T/F Malignant tumors initially grow very rapidly, ie high growth fraction
True
what happens as tumors increase in size
rate of proliferation decreases, ie low growth fraction /// Large tumors have a necrotic core Decreased nutrient supply at core More cells in resting phase (G0) More difficult to treat
Barriers to success
100% kill required Toxicity Late detection Tumor response Drug resistance Cell heterogeneity
Cannot kill the _____ to cure the ______
patient, cancer
consequence of late detection
Metastasis
Less responsive
Patient more debilitated by disease
why do solid tumors respond poorly
low growth fraction
limited blood supply
heterogeneity in Cancer cells
Ongoing mutation
Cells differ greatly- different responses to drugs
As tumor ages, heterogeneity increases
Startegies for success in chemotherapy
Intermittent chemo
Combination therapy
Optimal dosing
Regional therapy
Goal of intermitent chemo
100% CA cell death with limited normal cell injury
ADV of combo therapy
Reduces:
Drug resistance
Normal cell injury
Increases:
Cancer cell kill
Regional drug therapy
Access to tumors
High drug concentrations
Decrease systemic toxicity
Examples: Intraarterial, Intrathecal, Intraperitoneal, Intravesical
