Oncology Flashcards
Describe log cell kill kinetics
- A given treatment kills a constant fraction of cells
- Subsequent doses reduce cancer burden proportionally over time
- More cells killed, higher chance for cure
Describe Gompertzian model of tumor cell growth
Growth fraction of a tumor is NOT constant
-As tumor gets larger, growth fraction decreases
-This results in lower number of cells susceptible to chemo
(so treat earlier!)
What are the principles of combining chemo drugs?
- Efficacy: each drug must have some anticancer activity on its own
- Toxicity: minimize overlapping toxicities
- Optimum scheduling: give each drug in intervals to maximize its activity
- MOA: multiple to help overwhelm cells’ ability to develop resistance
Describe first line local primary therapy
Used in advanced cancer cases in which systemic treatments would NOT be effective
Describe neoadjuvant chemo
Used PRIOR to local therapies to improve their effect by reducing size of the tumor
Describe adjuvant chemo
Used AFTER local therapies to improve their long term effect by eliminating any remaining undetected cancer cells
Describe dose density of chemo
- Give repeated doses of multiple agents over a period of time
- Regular exposure provides a wave-like approach to killing cancer cells over time
Define cure in relation to cancer
- Sustained cancer-free period
- Usually 5 years
Define control of cancer
- Reduce cancer burden
- Prevent extension of cancer
- Extend survival
- Cure unlikely
Define palliation
- Reduce symptoms of disease
- Improve QOL
- Prolong survival
- Cure not likely
Define remission/complete response (CR)
Unable to detect presence of cancer
Define partial response
Reduction in tumor burden but cancer still present
Define treatment failure/progressive disease
Cancer continues to grow despite treatment
How can chemo resistance develop?
- Mutations within cancer cells could block chemo actions/uptake, transport drug back out
- Drug interactions could decrease exposure to chemo within the body
- Calculated doses could not match pts individual body characteristics
What are the options if primary cancer treatment is unsuccessful?
- Salvage treatment (use other combos)
- SCT
- Investigational therapies
Define autologous SCT
High dose chemo followed by re-infusion of pt’s own stem cells
Define allogeneic SCT
Chemo and immune modulation plus infusion of DONOR stem cells
What are the cell cycle non-specific chemo agents?
CAP’N
- Cytotoxic abx
- Alkylating agents
- Platinum compounds
- Natural products
MOA alkylating agents
- Disrupts normal DNA structure
- Prevents use of DNA as blueprint for cell division
- Cell cycle NON-specific
Examples of alkylating agents
- Melphalan
- Procarbazine
- Cyclophosphamide
- Carmustine
Indications for cyclophosphamide
Breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, etc. etc.
Indications for melphalan
Myeloma
Indications for procarbazine
Lymphoma
Alkylating agents ADEs
- BM toxicity (myelosuppression)
- Mucositis
- Sterility (usually temporary)
- NV
- Tissue damage (following extravasation)
- Risk of secondary malignancies