Chapter 5 - Cancer & Antineoplastic Pharmacology Flashcards
apoptosis
cellular death
asexual reproduction
Cellular division producing identical copies without the involvement of another cell.
benign
noncancerous
binary fission
Asexual cellular reproduction forming two identical cells.
cell cycle
Is the total life span of eukaryotic cells; two major phases are known as interphase and the mitotic phase.
cellular reproduction
Is the process of one cell dividing into two cells, also known as cellular division.
cytokinesis
The division of the cellular cytoplasm.
eukaryotic cells
Cells having a true nucleus bounded by a nuclear membrane and containing cellular organelles.
interphase
Where the majority of the cell cycle is spent on normal functioning and stockpiling needed materials for cellular division.
malignant
cancerous
metastasize
To spread from original site.
mitosis
Cellular division used for tissue growth where daughter cells have same number of chromosomes as original mother cell.
mitotic phase
Phase of actual cell division.
neoplasm
A new growth that results from overproduction of cells forming a lump or tumor.
oncologist
specialist that treats cancer
prokaryotic cells
Cells that lack a nucleus such as bacteria.
angiogenesis
Formation of new blood vessels.
cachexia
Weakened and frail state because of nutrient deprivation, often seen in cancer patients.
cancer
General term for malignant growth.
carcinoma
General term for cancerous tumor.
carcinoma in situ
A cancer that is “just sitting there” in the particular tissue and hasn’t broken through the basement membrane and invaded other tissues or sites.
dysplasia
Abnormal tissue development.
hyperplasia
Excessive growth of normal cells.
laukemia
Malignant neoplasms of the blood and blood-forming organs.
lymphomas
Malignant neoplasms of the lymphatic system.
malignant growths
Neoplasms whose cells are uncontrolled and have no function and an irregular structure.
neoplasia
New growth formation.
sarcoma
Cancerous tumor found in the connective tissue of bone, fat, or muscle.
tissue necrosis
The death of healthy tissue.
adoptive cell transfer
Cancer treatment using patient’s own selectively grown T-cells.
angiogenesis inhibitors (AIs)
Biological response modifier therapy that targets and destroys cancer-feeding blood vessels. Drug example: bevacizumab (Avastin).
antiandrogens
Medications that suppress the production and effects of testosterone and can be used to treat prostate cancer. Drug examples are Eligard and bicalutamide (Casodex).
antiemetics
Classification of drugs to treat nausea often given in conjunction with cancer treatment.
antiestrogens
Drugs that modify or block the cancer-causing effects of the hormone estrogen on breast tissue. Tamoxifen is an example of a selective estrogen receptor modifier.
antimetabolites
Cancer medications that interfere with cellular metabolism and thus interfere with cellular repair and reproduction. Drug examples are methotrexate and fluorouracil.
antineoplastic agents
Medications that counteract the growth and spread of malignant cells.
biological response modifier therapy
“targets” the cancer by manipulating the immune system to hunt down and specifically kill the cancer cells.
chemotherapy
Use of chemical substances or drugs to treat a disease, usually in reference to cancer.
colony-stimulating factors (CSFs)
Biological response modifiers that stimulate the bone marrow to develop red and white blood cells and platelets, which are often deficient in many cancers. Example drug is Erythropoietin (Epogen and Procrit).
immunotherapy
Use of natural or synthetic substances to stimulate or suppress immune system.
interferons
Biological response modifier therapy that actively stimulates the body’s immune response to fight cancer.
mitotic inhibitors
Chemotherapeutic agents derived from natural substances used to inhibit cellular reproduction of cancer cells. The drug paclitaxel derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree is an example.
monoclonal antibodies (MABs)
Biological response modifier therapy that uses genetically engineered antibodies that are too large to enter the targeted cell but can attach to the outside surface of the cancer cell thus tagging it for destruction by immune system.
palliative therapy
Therapy aimed at alleviating symptoms such as pain or obstructions to improve the quality of life.
signal transduction inhibitors (STIs)
Targeted cancer therapy agents that block specific enzymes and growth factors in cancer cells. Imatinib (Gleevec) is an oral STI that is approved for chronic myelogenous leukemia and some rarer types of cancers.
targeted therapy
Precision medicine that targets the desired abnormal cell (usually cancerous) for treatment and does not affect normal cells.
