Chemotherapy Agents Flashcards
antineoplastic drugs produce a proportional kill cell, what does this mean?
It means that a proportion, e.g. 95%, of the cells present may be eliminated during a single course of treatment. this is why multiple treatmetns are often needed to eradicate the cancer
many cytotoxic drugs have a therapeutic index of 1, what does this mean in terms of toxicity?
it means that the therapeutic dose is essentially the same as the toxic dose.
What GI side effects are common from antineoplastic drugs?
anorexia mucosal ulceration, diarrhoea, oral mucositis, N&V
which chemo drugs is oral mucositis (sore mouth) most common with?
fluorouracil, methotrexate and the anthracyclines
what unwanted effects from chemotherapy agents are there on the bone marrow?
myelosuppression leading to neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anaemia.
how many days after a cycle of chemo does myelosuppression tend to occur?
7-10days after
there is a high risk of what 2 things occuring with bone marrow suppression from chemo agents?
infection (neutropenic sepsis)
and
haemorrhage (thrombocytopenia)
what two chemotherapy agents pare particularly known for causing sterility? which two chemo agents can cause permanent male infertility?
cyclophosphamide or cytarabine.
alkylating agents or procarbazine can cause permanent male infertility.
what does extravasation of IV chemo drugs cause?
if anticancer drugs leak from a vein into the surrounding tissues, they can cause local tissue necrosis.
what is tumour lysis syndrome caused by?
rapid breakdown of malignant cells during chemo causing them to release their intracellular contents.
What abnormalities would you see in tumour lysis syndrome?
Hyperuricaemia, hyperkalaemia, hyperphosphataemia, hypocalcaemia
What are the consequences of tumour lysis syndrome?
arrhythmias
or
renal damage
breakdown of what causes hyperuricaemia in tumour lysis syndrome?
nucleic acids
why do you get hypocalcaemia in tumour lysis sydrome?
because you get precipitation of calcium phosphate.
tumour lysis syndrome is most common with treatmetn of which haematological cancers?
non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma and acute leukaemias
how do you manage tumour lysis syndrome?
ensure good hydration (>2.5L/day) and give allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor) to reduce production of uric acid. or those at high risk can be given rasburicase (recombinant urate oxidase) to enhance uric acid breakdown
what can be given to pts at high risk of tumour lysis syndrome? what is its mechanism of action?
rasburicase - recombinant urate oxidase whcih enhances uric acid breakdown.
What are some of the symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy?
pain, tingling, numbness, cold sensations in hands and feet.
due to damage to sensory nerves
Name 2 alkylating agents
chlorabmucil
cyclophosphamide
what is the mechanism of action of alkylating drugs
covalently bind to DNA preventing DNA replication and mRNA transcription