Concepts of Chemotherapy (Dykhuizen) Flashcards
In what ways is chemotherapy used to treat solid tumors?
- Adjuvant therapy: chemo after surgery
- Neoadjuvant therapy: chemo before surgery
In what ways is chemotherapy used to treat hematological tumors?
- Induction therapy: to eradicate cancer
- Consolidation therapy: to wipe out any remaining cancer
- Maintenance therapy: to prevent remission
Explain the 2-hit hypothesis in relation to retinoblastoma.
There is an assumption that hereditary retinoblastoma already has a single deletion.
What is synthetic lethality?
Inactivation of either of two genes individually has little effect on cell viability, but loss of function of both genes simultaneously leads to cell death.
BRCA mutations in breast cancer increase susceptibility to _____________.
PARP inhibitors
List four PARP inhibitors.
olaparib, rucaparib, niraparib, and talazoparib
What are PARP inhibitors PRIMARILY used for?
BRCA 1/2 cancers
True or false: olaparib can be prescribed with or without genetic testing.
false
Explain general nuclear organization from largest (cells) to smallest (DNA).
cells > genome > chromosome > genes > DNA
What is the central dogma of biology?
DNA (transcription) RNA (translation) protein
What happens in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle?
cell is quiescent or accumulating “building blocks” required for cell division
What happens in the S phase of the cell cycle?
cell replicating/synthesizing DNA
What happens in the G2 phase of the cell cycle?
cell assembles machinery for chromosomal segregation and cytokinesis
What happens in the M phase of the cell cycle?
mitosis
What drives the cell cycle clock?
cyclins paired with CDKs
What is the R point in the cell cycle clock?
when cells decide whether or not to enter the cell cycle
During what checkpoint is there evaluation of a mitogenic signal telling the cell to proceed?
G1-S
During what checkpoint is it assessed whether or not there are enough building blocks?
G1-S
During what checkpoint is it assesed whether there is unrepaired DNA damage?
G1-S
During what checkpoint is it assessed whether or not the genome has been replicated?
S-G2
During what checkpoint is there evaluation for any errors?
S-G2
During what checkpoint is it assessed whether the sister chromatid arms have been separated?
G2-M