Chemotherapy

Question 1

What is metastasis?

Answer 1

Abnormal cell growth in which cells spread to other parts of the body.

Question 2

What are the causes of cancer?

Answer 2

1. Environmental and genetics (BRCA1)
2. Tobacco, ionizing radiation, pollution.
3. Viral infections.

Question 3

What are the five phases of the cell cycle?

Answer 3

1. G1
2. S
3. G2
4. M
5. G0

Question 4

What is the G1 phase?

Answer 4

Checkpoint to ensure cell is ready for DNA syntheses.

Question 5

What is the S phase?

Answer 5

DNA synthesis

Question 6

What is the G2 phase?

Answer 6

Checkpoint to ensure cell is ready for mitosis.

Question 7

What is the M phase?

Answer 7

Mitotic phase

Question 8

What is the G0 phase?

Answer 8

Quiescent state

Question 9

What are tumor suppressor genes?

Answer 9

Genes that encode for proteins that repress cell cycle or promote apoptosis.

Question 10

How to TMGs repress cell cycles or promote apoptosis?

Answer 10

1. Inhibit cell division.
2. Initiate apoptosis following irreversible DNA damage.
3. Repair damaged DNA (BRCA)

Question 11

What is p53?

Answer 11

Tumor suppressor protein that is usually mutated in all tumors.

Question 12

What are proto-oncogenes?

Answer 12

Normal genes involved in cell growth and proliferation or inhibition of apoptosis.

Question 13

What are the two forms of mutations?

Answer 13

1. Point mutations: small scale.

2. Chromosomal translocation: large scale.

Question 14

What is Philadelphia chromosome?

Answer 14

Specific genetic abnormality on chromosome 22 found in leukemia cancer cells.

Creates gene BCR-ABL leading to unregulated tyrosine kinase activity.

Question 15

What does unregulated tyrosine kinase activity lead to?

Answer 15

Unregulated cell cycle and cell division.

Question 16

What two stages of the cell cycle do anti-cancer drugs typically act at?

Answer 16

S and M phase.

Question 17

What tissue is susceptible to damage from cytotoxic anti-cancer drugs (radiation)?

Answer 17

Tissues that proliferate rapidly (bone marrow, hair, intestinal epithelium).

Question 18

What are pyrimidine analogues?

Answer 18

Anti-cancer drug that competes with normal pyrimidine precursors for the enzyme thymidylate synthase, which alters the generation of dTMP.

Question 19

What is phophoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotransferase (PRPP amidotransferase)?

Answer 19

Enzyme that catalyzes purine nucleotide synthesis.

Question 20

What are alkylating agents?

Answer 20

Highly reactive compounds which covalently link to chemical groups commonly found in nucleic acid. Leads to cross-linking between DNA and breakage.

Question 21

What atom is particularly susceptible to formation of covalent bonds with alkylating agents?

Answer 21

N7 atom of guanine.

Question 22

What drug are cancer cells most susceptible to in late G1/S phases?

Answer 22

Alkylating agents

Question 23

What is folic acid?

Answer 23

Dietary factor converted to FH4 cofactors that synthesize precursors for RNA/DNA.

Question 24

What are folic acid analogues?

Answer 24

Interfere with FH4 metabolism thereby inhibiting DNA replication.

Question 25

When are anti-folates most effective?

Answer 25

S-phase; rapid proliferation.

Question 26

What are vinca alkaloids?

Answer 26

Compounds from periwinkle plant that inhibit tubulin polymerization to disrupt the M phase.

Question 27

What are taxanes?

Answer 27

Pacific yew tree derivatives that promote microtubule assembly to inhibit mitosis and cell division.

Question 28

What are camptothecins?

Answer 28

Anti-cancer drugs derived from acuminata tree that bind the transient DNA-topoisomerase 1 complex, leading to accumulation of ssDNA breaks.

Question 29

What are topoisomerases?

Answer 29

Nuclear enzymes that reduce torsional stress in supercoiled DNA through transient strand breaks and reseasling.

Question 30

What phase are comptothecins specific to?

Answer 30

S phase.

Question 31

What are anti-cancer antibiotics derived from?

Answer 31

Streptomyces.

Question 32

What is the function of anti-cancer anti-biotics?

Answer 32

To bind DNA through intercalation and block DNA synthesis/replication.

Question 33

What is the mechanism of anthracyclines?

Answer 33

1. Inhibit topoisomerases. 2. Generate free radicals. 3. High affinity bind to DNA. 4. Bind cellular membrane to alter fluidity and ionic ocmposition.

Question 34

What is the most widely used anti-cancer drug?

Answer 34

Anthracyclines.

Question 35

What are tyrosine-kinase inhibitors?

Answer 35

Inhibit tyrosine kinase domain of the BCR-Abl oncoprotein in leukemia.

Question 36

How does EGRF differ in solid tumors?

Answer 36

Overly expressed, promotes metastasis and proliferation.

Question 37

What is primary resistance?

Answer 37

Resistance developed spontaneously in the absence of prior exposure to anti-cancer drugs.

Question 38

What is acquired resistance?

Answer 38

Resistance developed in response to a given anticancer agen.

Question 39

What are the adverse effects of anti-cancer drugs?

Answer 39

Loss of rapid-synthesis tissue, carcinogenic.