Immunosuppressants and Cancer Chemotherapy

Question 1

Immunosuppressants

Name two
How do they work (3)
Uses (3)

Answer 1

Glucocorticoids (glucocorticosteroids)
Cyclosporine

How do they work:
inhibit cytokine(eg IL-2) production or action
block cytokine receptors on immune cells
inhibit DNA and RNA synthesis

Uses:
rheumatoid arthritis
prevention of organ rejection
Crohn’s disease (inflammatory condition of GI tract)

Question 2

Immunosuppressants - Cytokine production inhibitor (1)

Mechanism:
Used:
Adverse effects: (4)

Answer 2

Cyclosporine

Mechanism: reduce interleukin-2 (IL-2) cytokine synthesis. causes reduced T-lymphocyte numbers/activity

Used: prevention of kidney, liver, heart, and bone marrow transplant rejection

Adverse effects: 
kidney damage (nephrotoxity)
high blood pressure 
tremors
hirsutism

Question 3

Which drug is used for active rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 3

Tacrolimus (cytokine production inhibitor)

Question 4

Immunosuppressants - Glucocorticoids (AKA corticoids/corticosteroids/glucocorticosteroids) (1)

Mechanism:

Answer 4

Prednisone

Mechanism: mimics cortisol to inhibit cytokine gene expression

Question 5

Immunosuppressants - Drugs that inhibit DNA and RNA synthesis (1)

Answer 5

Azathioprine

Question 6

Most cancer drugs (antineoplastics) affect:

Answer 6

Cell division

Question 7

Many antineoplastics have a _____ therapeutic index

Answer 7

Narrow

Question 8

Cytotoxic drugs (1)

Mechanism:
Adverse effects:

Answer 8

Alkylating Agents

Mechanism: Affects DNA synthesis. drug forms chemical bond to guanine in DNA thus prevent strand separation and DNA replication.

Adverse effects: 
severe vomiting and nausea
bone marrow suppression
neutropenia (infection risk)
loss of circulating platelets (bleeding risk)
anemia