Lecture 5- Cancer Treatments

Question 1

How many anti-cancer drugs were introduced between 1981-2002? What kinds were there?

Answer 1

77. Proteins and peptides (12), natural secondary productions or semi-synthetic derivatives (30), synthetics to mimic known secondary products(18), totally synthetic(17)

Question 2

What is the name of drugs used in cancer chemotherapy called?

Answer 2

cytotoxic

Question 3

What is the name of the plant native to Madagascar and is a common horticultural species?

Answer 3

Rosy Periwinkle

Question 4

Who used rosy periwinkle to treat both diabetes and rheumatism?

Answer 4

South Africa

Question 5

In the 1950s, the American NCI tested extracts of rosy periwinkle for anti-cancer properties. Why did the results show no effects?

Answer 5

Because the screening did not include P-1534 leukemia

Question 6

What were Noble and Beer find in their investigations into the pharmacological properties of rosy periwinkle?

Answer 6

They found that it lowered which blood cell counts and greatly reduced bone marrow activity

Question 7

What are the names of the anti-cancer drugs that developed from the base alkaloids in rosy periwinkle?

Answer 7

VLB and VCR

Question 8

How does VLB and VCR work?

Answer 8

they interfere with the formation of spindle fibers during cell mitosis

Question 9

When are VLB and VCR most effective?

Answer 9

when taken in combination with other drugs

Question 10

What plant bark did the native peoples of western North America use to treat stomach aches?

Answer 10

Pacific Yew

Question 11

What did the Tsimshian peoples of coastal BC use pacific yew for?

Answer 11

cancer treatment

Question 12

When were the potent cytotoxic effects of Pacific yew first noted?

Answer 12

1960s

Question 13

How long was the screening program of Pacific yew

Answer 13

1960-1981 (21yrs)

Question 14

What did NCI researchers find when they found the historical manuscript Bower Manuscript?

Answer 14

Is is a Sanskrit compilation of early Indian medicine found in Chinese Turkistan in 1889 and mentioned the use of yew as a cancer treatment in Ayruvedic and Chinese medicine

Question 15

What is the name of the active principal alkaloid from Pacific yew? What was it renamed?

Answer 15

Taxol and renames Paclitaxel

Question 16

When was paclitaxel approved for the treatment of some forms of cancer? And for what kind of cancers?

Answer 16

1994. Approved for the treatment of various ovarian and breast cancers.