Chemotherapy Flashcards
What is single agent chemotherapy used for
Rarely curative as it selects out the cells that are genetically resistant
What is combination chemotherapy
A combination of drugs with different mechanisms of action and different side effect profiles to reduce the likelihood of resistance and toxicity
The drugs should have
Cytotoxicity activity for that tumour
Different mechanisms of action, ideally for additive or synergistic effects
Non overlapping toxicity to maximise benefit of the full therapeutic doses
Different mechanisms of resistance
What is adjuvant chemo
Given after the initial treatment to reduce the risk of relapse
E.g, following surgical removal
What is neoadjuvant chemo
Used to shrink tumours prior to surgical or radiological treatment
May allow later treatment to be conservative
What is palliative chemo
No curative aim
Offers symptom relief
May prolong survival
What does an alkylating agent do
Anti proliferative drug that binds via alkyl groups to the DNA leading to apoptosis
E.g. cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, busulfan
What classes of chemotherapy agents are there
Alkylating agent Angiogenesis inhibitor Antimetabolites antioestrogens Antitumour antibiotics Monoclonal antibodies Topoisomerase inhibitors Vinca alkaloids Taxanes
What cells are the effects of chemotherapy seen in
Rapidly dividing cells
Which are found in the gut, bone marrow, gametes, hair
Side effects of chemotherapy
Vomiting
Alopecia
Neuropenia
What drugs are angiogenesis inhibitors
Afibercept
Bevacizumab
Sunitinib
Types of anti oestrogens and when are they given
Aromatase inhibitors given post menopause and include letrozole, anastrozole
Oestrogen receptor antagonists Tamoxifen pre menopausal women
What do anti tumour antibiotics do and examples
They interrupt DNA function
Dactinomycin
Doxorubicin
Mitomycin
What do topiosromerase inhibitors do
Interrupt regulation of DNA winding
Etoposide
What do vinca alkaloids and taxanes do
Spindle poisons which target mechanisms of cell division
E.g. vincrisitine
What do beaus lines show
Lines on nails which show arrested growth at each chemo cycle
