Drugs

Question 1

What is Caelyx?

Answer 1

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride [PLDH]).
Anthracycline antibiotic in liposomes to reduce AEs and increase efficacy.
Exact mechanism not known—believed that inhibition of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis is responsible for most cytotoxic effects.
Common AEs - Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE), stomatitis/mucositis, nausea, and myelosuppression (mostly leukopenia)
Treatment of advanced ovarian cancer in women who have failed a first-line platinum-based chemo

Question 2

what is Gemzar?

Answer 2

Gemcitabine is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic EOC, in combination with carboplatin, in patients with relapsed disease
following a recurrence-free interval of at least 6
months after platinum-based, first-line therapy(not NICE approved).
Structure: Pyrimidine analogue
Mechanism of action: Antimetabolite— interferes
with enzymes involved in nucleic acid replication
by substituting for the normal building blocks of
DNA and RNA
Select common AE: Myelosuppression
(leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and anaemia)

Question 3

What is Etopophos?

Answer 3

Etoposide phosphate, VP-16 (Not recommended by NICE2)
Indication in ovarian cancer: treatment of
platinum-resistant/refractory EOC in adults; also
indicated in combination with other approved
chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of
non-epithelial ovarian cancer in adults
Structure: Synthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin,
a natural product isolated from the mandrake
plant
Mechanism of action: Topoisomerase II inhibitor—
interferes with the enzyme that helps separate DNA strands during DNA replication
Select common AEs: Myelosuppression
(leucopenia, thrombocytopenia) and increased
risk of leukaemia

Question 4

What is Tamoxifen?

Answer 4

Tamoxifen is a selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM) drug that blocks the ability of oestrogens to stimulate cell growth, Aromatase inhibitors block the production of oestrogens, and are usually used in postmenopausal women to treat breast cancer.

Question 5

What is Hycamtin®?

Answer 5

Hycamtin® (topotecan) can be used in the treatment of
patients with metastatic carcinoma of the ovary
after failure of first-line or subsequent therapy (NOT APPROVED BY NICE)
Structure: Camptothecin analogue
Mechanism of action: Topoisomerase I inhibitor—interferes with the enzyme that helps separate DNA strands during DNA replication
Select common AEs: Severe myelosuppression
(neutropenia) and gastrointestinal (GI) effects