CPTP 3.7 - Anti-cancer Drugs

Question 1

How do alkylating agents work in fighting cancers?

Answer 1

Induction of DNA double stranded breaks = inhibition of DNA replication

Question 2

Give an example of an alkylating agent?

Answer 2

Cyclophosphamide

Question 3

Name five common side effects seen with nearly all cancer treatments?

Answer 3

Hair loss
Nausea
Vomiting 
Diarrhoea 
Fatigue

Question 4

Name three specific side-effects commonly associated with anti-cancer drugs and bone marrow suppression?

Answer 4

Neutropenia
Anaemia
Thrombocytpenia

Question 5

How do anthracyclines work in fighting cancers?

Answer 5

Topoisomerase I/II inhibitors stabilise DNA double stranded breaks and therefore inhibit DNA replication

Question 6

Give an example of an anthracycline?

Answer 6

Doxyrubicin

Question 7

How do antimetabolites work?

Answer 7

Inhibition of purine and pyramidine synthesis = Inhibition of DNA synthesis

Question 8

Give an example of an antimetabolite?

Answer 8

Methotrexate

Question 9

How does methotrexate work?

Answer 9

Inhibits dihydrofolate reductase enzyme within folate metabolism and therefore purines and pyramidines can NOT be synthesised and therefore DNA synthesis is inhibited

Question 10

What is the antidote against lethal doses of methotrexate?

Answer 10

Folinic acid

Question 11

How do vinca alkaloids work?

Answer 11

Tubulin binders - (Spindle toxins) they inhibit mitosis
Spindles are no longer able to seperate the chromosomes - used to treat all head and neck cancers and soft tissue sarcomas

Question 12

Give an example of a vinca alkaloid and name three specific side-effects and a caution?

Answer 12

Vincristine
Neurotoxicity
Neuropathic pain (jaw/numbness/drop foot)
Severe constipation
NEVER give as intrathecal injection

Question 13

How do protein kinase inhibitors work?

Answer 13

Tyrosine kinase inhibited and therefore key abnormal signal transduction cascade pathways are inhibited

Question 14

Give an example of a protein kinase inhibitor and describe its mechanism of action?

Answer 14

Imatanib - binds to ATP binding site of tyrosine kinase (Bcl-ABl) and as tyrosine kinsase is ATP dependent it prevents its functioning

Question 15

Which form of cancer is a protein kinase inhibitor specifically good at treating?

Answer 15

Chronic myeloid leukemia

Question 16

Name a hormone antagonist that targets malignant disease?

Answer 16

Tamoxifen

Question 17

Name a platinum compound that targets malignant diseases?

Answer 17

Cisplatin