Final Exam Flashcards - Cancer
Cancer
- A disease that occurs when the normal cell renewal process fails
- Tumors may be benign or malignant
Treatment of Cancers
- Chemotherapy
- Biological therapy
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery
Chemotherapy
-Use of drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells
Biological Therapy
-Administration of immunomodulators to boost the body’s natural defense
Chemotherapeutic Agents/Antineoplastic Agents MOA
-Work by various mechanisms to interrupt the cell replication cycle
Types of Breast Cancer
- Hormone Receptor-Positive
- HER2-Positive
- Triple Negative
Breast Cancer Treatment
-Hormone therapy is the treatment of choice for breast cancer
Classification of Hormone Therapy
- SERMs
- Estrogen receptor down-regulators
- Aromatase inhibitors
- GnRH
- Progestins
SERMs
-tamoxifen
SERMs ADRs
- Lowered platelet and WBC count
- Hair loss
- Menstrual changes
- Pulmonary embolism
- Deep vein thrombosis
- N/V
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal itchiness
- Endometrial cancer
ER Down-Regulators
-fulvestrant
Fulvestrant ADR’s
- Bone and back pain
- hot flashes
- N/V
- Diarrhea
Aromatase Inhibitors
-Block the conversion of androgens to estrone and estradiol
Aromatase Inhibitors ADR’s
- Menopause like symptoms
- N/V
- Dizziness
- Cough
- Headache
- Hair loss
- Bone pain
LNRH and GnRH Agonists
-goserelin
Progestins
-Megestrol acetate is indicated for the treatment of inoperable, advanced metastatic breast cancer following treatment with tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors
Chemotherapeutic Agents: Alkylating Agents
- One of the oldest classes of chemotherapeutic agents
- Related to nitrogen mustard
- Can cause cell mutations and are carcinogenic
- Are toxic to cancerous cells and non-cancerous cells
Chemo Tech Note!
-All chemo agents are prepared in a vertical flow hood
Cyclophosphamide ADR’s
- Hair loss
- Appetite loss
- Skin discoloration
- Mouth sores
- Fatigue
Taxanes
- Common ending: “taxel”
- Cytotoxic drugs
- Interfere with mitosis
Taxanes ADR’s
- Decreased RBC, WBC, platelets
- Diarrhea/nausea
- Total body hair loss
- Aches and pains
- Flushing
- Sweating
Vinca Alkaloids
- Work similarly to taxanes
- Naturally derived from the periwinkle plant
Vinca Alkaloids ADR’s
- Hair loss
- N/V
- Constipation
- Joint and muscle pain
- Mouth sores
- Increased risk for infection
Anthracyclines
- Common ending: “rubicin”
- Impair DNA replication and growth phase of cell life cycle
Doxorubicin Tech Note!
- Doxorubicin is a prodrug, it must be metabolized to the active metabolite idarubicin
- Doxorubicin is cardiotoxic and may cause heart failure
Topoisomerase Inhibitors
-Inhibit topoisomerases (cleave DNA strands)
Platinum Compounds
- Common ending: “platin”
- Act on purine bases to cause faulty cross linkages and defective DNA
Cisplatin Tech Note!
-Cisplatin may cause irreversible hearing loss and neurotoxicity
Fluoropyrimidines
- Indicated for the treatment of several cancers
- Capecitabine and 5-FU are prodrugs
- 5-FU causes mismatched DNA base-pairs
Antimetabolites
-Work most effectively against rapidly dividing cancerous cells by inhibiting DNA synthesis
Biological Response Modifiers
-Modify the relationship between the tumor and the patient by strengthening the patients biological response to the tumor
BRM’s - Monoclonal Antibodies
-Mimic the antibodies your body naturally produces
