Cytotoxic Drugs Flashcards
What can you classify cytotoxic drugs as?
Cell cycle specific
Non-cell cycle specific
Name 2 cell cycle specific agents?
Antimetabolites - impair nucleotide synthesis/incorporation
Mitotic spindle inhibitors
Give 3 examples of Antimetabolites?
Methotrexate - inhibits dihydrofolate reductase
6-mercaptopurine - incorporated into DNA
Hydroxyurea - Impaired deoxynucleotide synthesis (ribonucleotide reductase)
What enzyme can you get to disturb folate metabolism?
Dihydrofolate reductase
What enzyme can you get to unwind DNA?
Topoisomerase II
What enzyme can you get to disturb nucleotide synthesis?
Ribonucleotide reductase /
Adenosine deaminase
Describe mitotic spindle inhibitors?
Plant derivatives
Vinca alkaloids - vincristine / vinblastine
Taxotere (taxol)
What 2 types of drugs act as non-cell cycle specific agents?
Alkylating agents
Platinum derivatives
Cytotoxic antibiotics
What are Alkylating agents?
Chlorambucil / mephalin
Bind covalently to bases of DNA (adducts)
Produces DNA strand breaks (mutation) by free radical production
Describe platinum derivatives
Cis-platinum / carboplatin
What drugs can be used as cytotoxic antibiotics?
Anthracyclines
Daunorubicin
Doxorubicin
Idarubicin
What do cytotoxic antibiotics do?
DNA intercalation: reversible
Impairs RNA transcription
Strand breaks in DNA (free radicals)
What are general side effects of cytotoxic drugs?
Affects rapidly dividing organs
Bone marrow suppression
Gut mucosal damage
Hair loss (alopecia)
Give some examples of cytotoxic drugs and their specific side effect
Vinca alkaloids - neuropathy
Anthracyclines - cardiotoxicity
Cis-platinum - nephrotoxicity
Give some examples of cytotoxicity and their long term side effects?
Alkylating agents - infertility + secondary malignancy
Anthracyclines - cardiomyopathy
Where can’t the chemo drugs get into?
Sanctuaries
Where is the Philadelphia chromosome?
22
Where is q34?
Chromosome 9
