Cancer Treatment (Chemotherapy) Flashcards
Chemotherapy - aims
To prolong survival
To maintain good quality life
To minimise side-effects
Rank Haemopoietic, Mast cell tumours and Sarcomas based on chemosensitivity
Drugs work best on rapidly dividing cells:
Haemo
Mast cell tumour
Sarcomas
Two types of chemotherapy treatments
Conventional (Max tolerated dose MTD)
Targeted therapies
Outline conventional chemotherapy treatment
Works on rapidly dividing cells in a non-specific way
Does not differentiate between tumour and normal cells
Minimises side-effects by allowing normal cells to recover between doses
Why should I use a combination of chemotherapy drugs to treat lymphoma
different drugs should have a different mode of action
affect different phases of the cell cycle
and have different methods of resistance
What do I need to ensure when giving a combination of chemo drugs to patient with lymphoma
Drug toxicities do not overlap
Drugs do not interfere with each other
Why should I use an established protocol in chemotherapy
Ensure each drug is effective against tumour
Avoid overlapping toxicities/ drug interactions
Ensure adequate time for cells to recover
Are side effects from chemotherapy common in animals?
Usually minimal because protocols adapted to animals
Occasionally can be severe
Need good knowledge of hazards and careful monitoring to prevent side-effects!
Need to educate clients as to what to look out for!
Most common side effects of chemotherapy
Bone marrow suppression,
Alopecia,
GI upsets,
Outline chemotherapy for lymphoma
Treat any concurrent disease first
Eg Antibiotics for skin infection,iv saline diuresis for hypercalcaemia
Use specific chemotherapy
Induce clinical remission with high doses
Continue with maintenance (lower doses)
Intensify protocol if response not complete or change protocol to different drugs
Monitor for side-effects
What could I do if there is no evidence chemotherapy is working for patient
add a boost eg L-asparaginase or change protocol
What should I do if animal is showing sign of side effects after last dose
consider dose reduction, more GI protectants /anti-nausea drugs
OR change drugs /protocol
OR stop treatment
What are the drugs in COP protocol
Cyclophosphamide
Vincristine (Oncovin)
Prednisolone
Outline the induction phase in the COP protocol
Continuous every other day tablet administration /weekly injections
High doses of drugs for 1st 6-8 weeks to induce remission
Outline maintenance phase after induction in low dose COP protocol
Alternate week therapy (week of drugs, week of no drugs, week of drugs etc)
then 1 week in 3, 1 week in 4 etc for up to 2 years if the animal survives that long
Change cyclophosphamide to chlorambucil after 6 months to reduce risk of haemorrhagic cystitis developing.
What could cyclophosphamide cause in the long term
Haemorrhagic cystitis
Prevention of haemorrhagic cystitis
Give cyclophosphamide tablets in a.m.
Encourage drinking and urination (Prednisolone is helpful!)
Monitor urine for traces of BLOOD by dipstick (cheap) or urinalysis (precise)
Administer a diuretic (furosemide) at time of administration if infrequent use of cyclophosphamide eg CHOP
Treatment for haemorrhagic cystitis
Stop cyclophosphamide
Culture urine ± give antibiotics for secondary infection
Substitute chlorambucil /melphalan for cyclophosphamide in protocol.
When is high dose COP protocol suitable
Useful for cats where 50mg tablet size can be difficult to dose accurately or for animals/owners that want fewer visits
What is the CHOP protocol
Cyclophosphamide
Hydroxydaunorubicin = doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
Vincristine (Oncovin)
Prednisolone
Induction phase over 10 weeks is essentially 2 cycles of 4 drugs, given as weekly pulses
What chemo drug is cardiotoxic
Hydroxydaunorubicin = doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
Prevention of cardiotoxicity in chemotherapy
Assess cardiac function prior to 1st dose and continue to monitor after 4-6 doses
Baseline echocardiography measurements of
- Fractional shortening (Contractility)
- Ejection fraction
Do not exceed cumulative dose 180mg/m2
Consider less cardiotoxic equivalent drugs