Chemotherapy

Question 1

What’s the fractional cell kill hypothesis?

Answer 1

A given dose of chemo kills a constant proportion of tumour cells rather than a constant number

Question 2

Alkylating Agents

Answer 2

Cisplatin, Oxaliplatin

Stops DNA replication

Question 3

Antimetabolites

Answer 3

Methotrexate - dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor

5-Fluorouracil - Inhibits thymidilate synthase

Question 4

Spindle poisons

Answer 4

Vincristine, Paclitaxel

Can’t undergo mitosis so apoptosis happens

Question 5

ADRs of chemo?

Answer 5

N+V - direct effect on CTZ

Alopecia - scalp cooling can help

Skin toxicity - beau’s lines (fingernails), extravasation (drug leaks from veins to surrounding tissues)

Mucositis

Neutropenia

Renal toxicity

Cardio toxicity

Question 6

Cisplatin and Carboplatin ADR?

Answer 6

Ototoxicity
Nephrotoxicity

Question 7

Vincristine ADR?

Answer 7

Peripheral neuropathy

Question 8

Bleomycin ADR?

Answer 8

Pulmonary fibrosis

Question 9

Cyclophosphamide ADR?

Answer 9

Haemorrhagic cystitis (mesna/hydration helps)