chemotherapy Flashcards
how do you deliver systemic therapy
oral or intravenous route
what are the methods of assessing drug activity?
Objective response in advanced disease via CT scan, PET scan and/or clinical examination; RECIST criteria if radiological
- ADJUVANT treatment improves survival
- NEOADJUVANT may improve survival through increasing operability or reduce the ‘filed’ of radical radiotherapy
what is a mode of action of chemotherapy drugs?
alkylating agents antimetabolites vinca alkaloids taxanes antimitotic antibiotics
what does alkylating agents allow
allow covalent bonds with other molecules
what are characteristics of antimetabolites
similar chemical structure to essential metabolites required by cell prior to cell division
may be incorporated into new nuclear material or bind irreversibly with vital enzymes to inhibit cell division
whats the function of vinca alkaloids
metaphase arrest agents; bind to tubuli and block microtubule formation and spindle formation (essential for metaphase of mitosis)
whats the function of taxanes
promote spindles and ‘freeze’ cells at that stage of cycles
whats the function of aantimitotic antibiotics
intercalate and inhibit DNA and RNA synthesis
membrane binding and increase permeability to various ions
free radicals disrupt DNA chain and prevent mitosis
metal ion chelation resulting in cytotoxic compounds
alylation blocking DNA replication
what are side effects of chemotherapy
vomiting nausea alopecia shortness of breath tired difficulty sleeping stress
what are other systemic therapies?
hormonal drugs
targeted drugs against
whats the advantages of systemic therapy
getting smarter, more specific, personalised medicine, immunotherapy effective
