Cytotoxic Drugs Flashcards
How are cytotoxic drugs classified?
Cell cycle specific
Non-cell cycle specific
Give some general characteristics of cell cycle specific agents
Tumour specific
Duration of exposure more important than dose
What are the main types of cell cycle specific agents?
Antimetabolites
Mitotic spindle inhibitors
Which drugs work as antimetabolites?
Methotrexate
6-mercaptopurine
Hydroxyurea
How does methotrexate work?
Inhibits dihydrofolate reductase to prevent folate metabolism
How does hydroxyurea work?
Inhibits ribonucleotide reductase to prevent nucleotide synthesis
Give examples of mitotic spindle inhibitors
Vinca alkaloids
Taxotere
Give some general characteristics of non-cell cycle specific agents
Non-tumour specific and damage normal stem cells
Cumulative dose more important than duration
What are the main types of non-cell cycle specific agents?
Alkylating agents (chlorambucil/cisplatin/carboplatin) Cytotoxic antibodies (anthracyclines)
How do alkylating agents work?
They bind to DNA bases and produce free radicals causing strand breaks
What are the general side effects of cytotoxic drugs?
Bone marrow suppression
Gut mucosal damage
Alopecia
Vinca alkaloids can damage which organ?
Brain
Anthracyclines can damage which organ?
Heart
Cisplatin can damage which organ?
Kidneys
Give some long term side effects of alkylating agents
Infertility
Secondary malignancy
