Cytotoxic Agents Flashcards
Cyclophosphamide mechanism
Alkylating agent - causes cross-linking in DNA
Cyclophosphamide side effects
- Haemorrhagic cystitis
- myelosuppression
- transitional cell carcinoma
Bleomycin mechanism
Degrades preformed DNA
Bleomycin side effects
- Lung fibrosis
Doxorubicin mechanism
Stabilizes DNA-topoisomerase II complex inhibits DNA & RNA synthesis
Doxorubicin side effects
- Cardiomyopathy
Methotrexate mechanism
Inhibits dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthesis
Methotrexate side effects
- Myelosuppression
- mucositis
- liver fibrosis
- lung fibrosis
Fluorouracil (5-FU) mechanism
Pyrimidine analogue inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by blocking thymidylate synthase (works during S phase)
Fluorouracil (5-FU) side effects
- Myelosuppression
- mucositis
- dermatitis
6-mercaptopurine mechanism
Purine analogue that is activated by HGPRTase, decreasing purine synthesis
6-mercaptopurine side effects
- Myelosuppression
Cytarabine mechanism
Pyrimidine antagonist. Interferes with DNA synthesis specifically at the S-phase of the cell cycle and inhibits DNA polymerase
Cytarabine side effects
- Myelosuppression
- ataxia
Vincristine, vinblastine mechanism
Inhibits formation of microtubules