Chemotherapy

Question 1

Taxane examples?

Answer 1

Docetaxel, paclitaxel

Question 2

Taxane MOA?

Answer 2

Antimicrotubule: stabilises tubulin to prevent depolymerisation which inhibits cell division.

Question 3

Antimetabolite examples?

Answer 3

5-FU, capercitabine, methotrexate, pemetrexed

Question 4

Methotrexate MOA?

Answer 4

Antifolate: inhibits the conversion of folic acid to folinic acid by inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase.

Question 5

5-FU MOA?

Answer 5

Pyrimidine analogue: metabolism results in the formation of two active metabolites. 5-UMP replaces uracil in RNA synthesis to inhibit cell growth. 5-dUMP inhibits thymidylate synthetase in DNA synthesis to inhibit cell growth.

Question 6

Folinic acid MOA?

Answer 6

Folinic acid is converted into folic acid derivatives thus mimics action of folic acid.

Question 7

Why is folinic acid used with antifolates?

Answer 7

Antifolates (pemetrexed, methotrexate) prevent folic acid from being used by the body by inhibiting folic acid metabolism. Folinic acid is used to decrease antifolate toxicity by supplementing the body with folic acid derivatives.

Question 8

Anthracyclines MOA?

Answer 8

Inhibits topoisomerases and intercalates between DNA base pairs to disrupt DNA and RNA synthesis and function.

Question 9

Anthracycline examples?

Answer 9

Doxorubicin, epirubicin

Question 10

Alkylating agents MOA?

Answer 10

Alkylate nucleic acids, proteins, amino acids and nitrogenous bases to cause disruption of DNA and RNA synthesis, resulting in altered protein synthesis which causes apoptosis.

Question 11

Platinum agents MOA?

Answer 11

Platinum agents cause interstrand and intrastrand bond formation by cross-linking between guanines on DNA.