New and future treatments for blood cancers Flashcards
what is the main general mechanism of action of chemotherapy and radiotherapy
damages DNA of cancer cells as they undergo mitosis and cell division
what does a cell normally do when it is damaged beyond repair
which protein is involved
undergoes apoptosis
p53
is there inflammation in the apoptotic process
no
apoptotic bodies are phagocytosed and there is no inflammation
is there inflammation in necrosis
yes
rupture of plasma membrane and lysis of cellular and nuclear contents causes inflammation
why do CLL and lymphoma respond well to chemotherapy
lymphocytes are keen to undergo apoptosis in normal lymph nodes
therefore abnormal cells can be triggered to undergo apoptosis readily by chemo/radiotherpy
why does acute leukaemia respond well to chemotherapy
cells are dividing very quickly and so more cells are targeted and affected
why do you get side effects with chemo/radiotherapy
damage to normal cells as they divide
what are immediate side effects of chemo/radiotherapy
tiredness
hair loss
N+V
neutropaenic infections
what are long term side effects of chemo/radiotherapy
heart damage
lung damage
other cancers
infertility
what prophylactic treatment should be given to at risk patients on chemo/radiotherapy
prophylactic antibiotics/antifungals
management of neutropenic infection
sepsis 6 bundle
broad spectrum antibiotics - follow guidelines
red cell and platelet transfusion
GCSF
death from fungal infection is common, true or false
false
it is very rare due to prophylactic antifungals and better supportive care
what is done in Hodgkins lymphoma to allow for better administration of chemo/radiotherapy
PET scans
aims to cure whilst also reducing side effects
give examples of targeted therapies
monoclonal antibodies
biological treatments
molecularly targeted treatments
how do monoclonal antibodies work
only affect cells with target protein
this avoids side effects
