Chemotherapy (doctor in training)

Question 1

Growth fraction

Answer 1

Fraction of tumors that are actively replicating. Higher it is and more susceptible it will be to chemo. Fast-growing tumors are more sensitive to chemo.

Question 2

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Answer 2

• Pre-operative treatment.
• Initial chemotherapy is designed to shrink the primary tumor.
• Local therapy, such as surgery or radiotherapy will be less destructive and more effective.

Question 3

Adjuvant chemotherapy

Answer 3

• Little evidence of cancer present, but there is a risk of recurrence.
• Help reduce chances of developing resistance if the tumor does develop.
• Killing cancerous cells that have spread to other parts of the body

Question 4

Dosage

Answer 4

• Based upon body surface area

- Calculation vased upon height, weight and given in cycles

Question 5

First order kinetics

Answer 5

= log kill = a given dose of drug kills a constant fraction of cells

Question 6

Sanctuary sites

Answer 6

• Barriers that prevent chemo to pass

- E.g. CNS, testicle

Question 7

Combination chemotherapy

Answer 7

• Target multiple cell growth at once
• Increases cell kill without significantly incraseing the toxicity
• Decrease ot prevent drug resistance

Question 8

Multidrug resistance

Answer 8

• Amplification of p-glycoprotein

- Results in an ATP-dependent pumping of the drugs out of the cell