Drug Synergy + pharmacogenomics Flashcards
name 3 benefits of synergy
Enhance therapeutic benefit, Minimize drug toxicity,
Minimize drug reduced resistance
describe selective toxicity with respect to infectious agents and cancer cells
try to create drugs that are toxic to elements of pathogen (eg. cell wall) that we don’t have so as not to induce self harm.
in cancer try to target elements of cancer cell that are different to normal self
describe how synergy works b/w gentamycin and an aminoglycoside
gentamycin targets cell wall while the aminoglycoside targets protein synthesis
describe why an opioid receptor agonist and antagonist may be combined
one for pain relief and one to prevent constipation
describe reasoning behind multidrug therapy in HIV and Hep C
targeting multiple different stages of the life cycle is more effective and also reduces drug resistance
what is Pharmacogenomics? hpw is it dif from pharmacogenetics
Pharmacogenomics is the study of the role of genetics in drug response - has a more global spectrum when compared to pharmacogenetics which refers more to how an individuals genes will interact with a drug.
Describe, using examples, how SNPs can change Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic behavior of drugs.
Kinetics - with statins - a SNP in one of the liver transport genes will decrease statin uptake and increase toxicity.
Dynamics - SNP in the 5-lipoxygenase gene is predicitve of poor response to anti-luekotriene therapy in asthma
Describe, using an example/s, how DNA expression profiling can help in drug administration decision making.
Breast Cancer -can use DNA profiling to classify tumours to better inform treatment options.
can identify patients who would most likely benefit from (aggressive) chemotherapy treatment. C.f those for whom aggressive therapy not needed
aim of Pharmacogenetics?
To enable more effective and safer use of medicines in a patient specific way - the so called ‘personalised medicine’
