Handout for Principles of Cancer Chemotherapy

Question 1

Describe metastasis.

Answer 1

Metastasis: spread of cancer cells to secondary sites in the body.

Question 2

Give 1 advantage of cell-surface antigens on some cancer cells.

Answer 2

Alteration of cell-surface antigens on cancer cells allow immune system to target them for destruction.

Question 3

Describe three types of daughter cells formed as a result of mitosis.

Answer 3

1. Nondividing and terminally differentiated (no DNA replication).
2. Continually proliferating.
3. Cells that are resting but may be recruited into cell cycle (stem cells).

Question 4

Describe the advantage of giving combinations of anti-cancer drugs in order to completely kill neoplasias.

Answer 4

Combinations of agents with different toxicities and mechanisms of action overcome limited log kill of individual drugs. Also try to overcome drug resistant cells (hopefully one of the agents will affect the cell).

Question 5

Apply six anticancer agents currently listed as affected by MDR-1-mediated resistance to a clinically-relevant case scenario.

Answer 5

MDR-1-mediated drugs: anthracyclines, vinca alkaloids, paclitaxel, etoposide, mitomycin, licamycin.

Question 6

Apply a drug that is given to increase red blood cell counts in anemic cancer patients to a clinically-relevant case scenario.

Answer 6

Recombinant erythropoietin.