Oncology Midterm #2 Flashcards
Oncology Agents
Selectivity is incredibly important but the ability to only kill cancer cells is impossible.
Cytotoxic agents: kill cancer cells, first agents developed. Cause necrosis
Cytostatic agents: inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Less toxic. Cause apoptosis
Carcinogenesis
- Under normal circumstances cells in the human body are under strict control in terms of growth and differentiation, which are stimulated by growth factors.
- apoptosis: organized and programmed cell death. Normal cell maintenance in healthy tissue
- Hallmark of cancer is uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells which consume nutrients and energy within the host, and the cancer cells lose their ability to perform their normal functions1
Solid vs Liquid
solid tumors: cancer cells are located in solid tissues, not as responsive to radiation
liquid tumors: cells in the blood, responsive to radiation
Oncogenes vs Tumor suppressor genes
Oncogenes: mutation that occurs in proto-oncogenes, which promote cancer. Regulate the communication between cells and their outside environment
Tumor suppressor genes: mutations occur in these genes these genes normally suppress cancer, and when mutated they lack the ability to “turn off” cancer
Types of mutations
inherited germ line mutations, spontaneous point mutations, chromosomal rearrangements or augmentation of gene expression
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) mutation
bcr-abl translocation (oncogene), Philadelphia chromosome. Liquid tumor. gene rearrangement, part of chromosome 22 is translocated to chromosome 9 to turn on cell growth. Chromosome 9 gets longer and chromosome 22 gets shorter.
Cell Cycle stages
somatic cell division through mitosis
G0: resting phase
G1: initial phase of mitosis; synthesis of enzymes required for DNA synthesis (about 20 hours)
S: DNA synthesis and replication of DNA (about 20 hours)
G2: synthesis of RNA, protein and formation of mitotic spindle for duplication of the cell (2-10 hours)
M: mitosis (1 hour) forming 2 daughter cells that are clones of the mother cell.
Polytherapy
Combining drugs that work at different phases of the cell cycle for greater cell kill
Cell cycle specific drugs: anti-cancer drugs that are specific for a certain phase in the cell cylce.
Antimetabolites: damage cells in the S phase
Antimitotics: Damage cells in the M phase
Metastasis
process by which cancer cells leave the location of the parent tumor and spread to distant sites.
Bloodstream and lymphatic system are the primary distributors.
Primary tumor must slough off enough cells to allow one to travel to another site.
Liver is common, highly perfused. Same with lung, brain and bone marrow.
Most cancer patients die from the consequences of metastatic lesions rather than the parent tumor.
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs)
type of cell that is sloughed from the primary cancer tumor. Measurement is used as a prognostic factor and a diagnostic factor and they are considered biomarkers or surrogate markers.
Chemotherapy as treatment
One of the four major forms: surgery, radiotherapy, biological (bone marrow transplantation or stem cell transplantation) and chemotherapy
Cancer cells are not “intelligent” but they are “adaptive”. They survive by clonal selection and they use many mechanisms to survive. This is why we use polytherapy in treatment of cancer. Single agent therapy may be successful in early stage hormone dependent cancers like breast and prostate.
Premedications
Minimize the occurrence of side effects and hypersensitivity
H1 antagonist: diphenhydramine
H2 antagonist: ranitidine
Corticosteroids: dexamethasone
Antiemetics for N/V
Drug Resistance
Occurs because not all cancer cells in a given tumor are exactly alike.
Clonal selection: the cells most sensitive to the initial drug dies but the resistant cells survive and continue to grow and replicate
Prostate cancer example: Androgen dependent cells and androgen independent cells. With hormone withdrawal kill all of the AD cells but leave the AI cells. Tumor returns containing mainly AI cells.
Clinical trials:
Phase 1 focus on PK and dose-limiting toxicities (10-25 subjects).
Phase 2 focus on signs of efficacy (30 patients).
Phase 3 focuses on proof of efficacy and frequency of side effects (100’s or 1000’s subjects).
Response criteria in early phase trials (Phase 1 and 2):
Complete response (CR): no sign of cancer 1 month after completion of therapy
Partial response (PR): reduced tumor size of 30% or more
Stable disease (SD): tumor size has not increased more than 20% and decreased less than 30%
Progression (P): tumor has grown by more than 20% and/or formation of new lesions
Response criteria for final stage trials (phase 3)
Overall survival (OS): how much longer do patients survive on average. gold standard.
Progression free survival (PFS): how much longer patients survive without progression (worsening) of disease.
Personnel:
surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, hematologic oncologists (largely liquid tumor), medical oncologists (largely solid tumor), oncology pharmacists, oncology nurses, oncology histopathologists and geneticists. Oncology pharmacists should pay attention to drug interactions and combined toxicities.
Incidence
Use American Cancer Society for incidence and mortality
Most common: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer
Most lethal cancers: esophageal, glioblastoma (type of brain cancer), liver and bile duct and pancreatic. Also very rare cancers have high mortality because it is hard to conduct clinical trials for new treatment.
Hematopoeisis
the process by the blood cell components are produced in the body.
Different cell types are produced down different paths and can be stimulated or inhibited differently
Amount of cell types in body
Humans normally have approximately 5 million RBCs, 150,000-400,000 platelets and 4,000-11,000 WBC (which are subdivided into different populations). Low numbers of WBC make them vulnerable to depletion and they are necessary to prevent infection.
Formation of hematopoetic cells
Hemocytoblast forms all the different blood cell types. Leukocytes are white and include granulocytes and agranulocytes. Erythrocytes are red. Thrombocytes are platelets.
RBCs (erythrocytes)
Primary function is oxygen transport, Very rich in the oxygen carrier hemoglobin
Production can be stimulated by low oxygen content in blood which is detected in the kidneys. The kidney stimulates secretion of erythropoietin (Epo) which increases RBC production
Life-span is 120 days
WBC (leukocytes)
Primary function is to fight infection, and there are many subtypes
life-span is hours to several days or a weeks
Granulocytes and Agranulocytes
Granulocytes:
have the appearance of granules in their cytoplasm.
Granules are packets of digestive enzymes. Three subtypes:
- Neutrophils: target bacteria and fungi and destroy these pathogens by phagocytosis
- Eosinophils: target parasites and involved in allergic inflammatory responses
- basophils: store histamine for release during inflammation response. Hives, anaphylaxis
Agranulocytes:
appear not to have granules. Three subtypes:
- Lymphocytes: large subset of cell types that includes B cells, T cells and NK cells. More abundant in the lymphatic fluids than in blood.
- Monocytes: similar role to neutrophils and capable of phagocytosis but can also present pieces of pathogens to T cells
- Macrophages: monocytes that are in the tissue.
Lymphocyte T cells
A. Four types of T cells, just know that the T cell can recognize cancer cells through MHC and attack the cancer cells.
B. However, cancer cells over time have adapted a B7 protein to recognize T cells and inactivate the T cells (cancer cell survives). Interacts with CTLA4 on T cell
PD-L1 protein on the cancer cell can also interact with the T cell and inactivate the T-cell through PD-1 receptor on T cell.
C. Recent development of antibodies to prevent inactivation of the T cell by the cancer therapy. Called immunotherapy.
D. Ipilumumab: Yervoy. anti-CTLA4 mAb that prevents interaction of B7 with CTLA4. Approved for metastatic melanoma
E. Pembrolizumab: Keytruda. anti-PD1 mAb that prevents interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1.
Platelets:
very important in clot formation. Average life span 8-9 days. Not as big of a concern.
Neutropenia:
low levels of neutrophils
Leukopenia:
low level of leukocytes
Thrombocytopenia:
low levels of platelets. Not as big of a concern in therapy.
Anemia:
the condition of abnormally low functional hemoglobin. Usually has a low red blood cell count.
Polycythemia:
condition of abnormally high RBC which can occur with overdose of erythropoietin
DNA cross-linkers and alkylating agents
General mechanism: DNA is electron rich and these agents are electron poor, causing the interaction.
These agents are non-cell cycle specific
Platinum Agents
Cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin
Cisplatin: uses
lung cancer, testicular cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer. IV only
Cisplatin: Dose
20-100 mg/m2 but dependent on disease and renal function. Hydration before and after therapy.
Cisplatin: MOA
reacts with DNA bases, especially nitrogen 7 of guanine. Cis geometry is essential for activity
Cisplatin Structure
Cisplatin: Toxicity
quite toxic. Includes nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, myelosuppression (loss of WBC and usually neutrophils), severe N/V. Sodium thiosulfate can be administered to reduce nephrotoxicity. Amifostine can be used to reduce ototoxicity.
Cisplatin: ADME
High renal excretion predisposes to renal toxicity, this can impact other drugs that are excreted by the kidneys. Plasma half life less than 30 minutes.
Cisplatin: Distribution
Distribution: Outside cells with high chloride concentration cisplatin remains intact, and neutral and can penetrate cells. Once inside cells the chloride concentration drops and water molecules replace chloride atoms and this aquated form is charged and locked inside the cell.
Diluent: must be saline to prevent “aquation” reaction.
Carboplatin Structure and Class
Platinum. Paraplatin
Carboplatin: Uses
mainly for ovarian cancer (often with cyclophosphamide), also used in prostate cancer (with docetaxol) and lung cancer (with paclitaxel).
Carboplatin: MOA
Similar to cisplatin but chemically more stable and less active, also less toxic.
Carboplatin: Toxicity
Less toxic than cisplatin. Myelosuppression, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, N/V.
Carboplatin: ADME
Main route of excretion is renal. Longer half-life than cisplatin, 3 hours. For patients with renal impairment dosing is guided by creatinine clearance
Carboplatin: Dilution
Can be diluted with D5W or NS. So less reactive than cisplatin.
Oxaliplatin Class and Structure
Eloxatin. Platinum Agent
Oxaliplatin: Uses
mainly colorectal cancer.
FOLFOX regimen: folinic acid/fluorouracil/oxaliplatin
FOLFIRINOX regimen: folinic acid/fluorouracil/irinotecan/oxaliplatin. effective but highly toxic. More agents you combine the more risk for toxicity. Used in pancreatic cancer.
Oxaliplatin: MOA
Similar to cisplatin and carboplatin. More lipophilic so more penetration into tissues. The need for pre-hydration and evaluating renal function is less critical.
Oxaliplatin: toxicities
peripheral neuropathy (occurs in cisplatin and carbo as well but not the major toxicity). Unknown mechanism for peripheral neuropathy. Myelosuppression.
Oxaliplatin: ADME
Elimination largely renal. Longer half-life than cisplatin and carboplatin.
Oxaliplatin: Dilution
dilution of oxaliplatin should not include saline (chloride ions) or agents that make the solution alkaline. Chloride addition produces dichloro form which is more active and much more toxic
Pipeline Platinums
Picoplatin and Satraplatin have been studied but have failed in recent clinical trials. Very active but too toxic, compared to the agents on the market
Busulfan Structure and Class
Busulfex or Myleran. Methyl Sulfates.
Busulfan uses
mainly IV for myeloablation prior to bone marrow or stem cell transplantation for CML. Has been used in combination with cyclophosphamide (BuCy regimen). IV or PO. PO used for palliative treatment of CML.
Busulfan MOA
bifunctional and direct alkylator of DNA.
Busulfan: Toxicities
extreme myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity
Busulfan: ADME
lipophilic and can penetrate the CNS. PK monitoring of busulfan level is common and is the best way to deliver the most precise dose to the patient, in order to avoid seizures.
Treosulfan: structure, class
Methyl sulfates. approved in Europe but not the US
Treosulfan: Uses
historically for ovarian cancer but now being studied for myeloablatiion prior to allogenic stem cell transplantation, in place of busulfan. Potentially has no need to do PK monitoring.
Treosulfan: Toxicity
more polar than busulfan so less seizures due to lower CNS penetration. Similar toxicities otherwise.
Treosulfan: MOA
Alkylator that forms epoxides intramolecularly prior to reacting with DNA. Is also a more potent immunosuppressant than busulfan so it has the potential for replacing busulfan in allogeneic transplants.
Treosulfan: ADME
More polar than busulfan so less penetration into CNS.
Thio-triethylenephosphoramide
Thiotepa. methyl sulfate
Thio-triethylenephophoramide: uses
breast cancer, ovarian cancer, myeloablative agent prior to allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation. IV. Used for bladder cancer but administration is intravesical (directly into the bladder)
Thio-triethylenephophoramide: Mechanism
direct alkylator of DNA but more active following conversion to Tepa, the FMO enzyme is responsible for this conversion. Parent drug and metabolite are active, therefore not a prodrug. Tepa contains a double bonded oxygen instead of sulfur. Sites of DNA binding are any of the three-membered ring carbons.
Thio-triethylenephosphoramide: Toxicity
When given IV, severe myelosuppression, infections and N/V
Thio-triethylenephosphoramide: ADME
elimination half life is 2 hours and Tepa is nearly 20 hours. Both can penetrate the CNS and cause dizziness, headaches, etc. Most excretion is renal
Thio-triethylenephosphoramide: Dose
administered as initial dose followed by maintenance doses every 1-4 weeks. Delayed or slow response does not necessarily indicate a lack of effect. Increasing frequency of dosing causes increases toxicity.
Dacarbazine
DTIC. methyl sulfate
Dacarbazine: Uses
Hodgkin’s lymphoma as part of ABVD regimen (adriamycin/bleomycin/vinblastine/dacarbazine). Also used for melanoma. IV only
Dacarbazine: Mechanism
prodrug following N-dealkylation by cytochrome P450, the molecule tautomerizes to the more reactive form which reacts with DNA, specifically the O-6 position on guanine. DNA attacks on the methyl group outside the two nitrogens. See mechanism.
Dacarbazine: Toxicities
Myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity (severe and may cause death), N/V
Dacarbazine: ADME
metabolized by liver CYP1A2, but nearly half the drug excreted unchanged
Other methyl sulfates
procarbazine and Temozolomide
Mechlorethamine
Nitrogen Mustard/alkylating agents. Mustargen.
Very old agent, initially was a chemical warfare agent
Mechlorethamine: uses
formerly for various leukemias but used less today because of better agents. Palliative treatment for late stage Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Mechlorethamine: Mechanisms
Binds to DNA after formation of reactive aziridine ring which is very electrophilic and is a 3 membered ring. Bifunctional activity because both ethyl chlorides are reactive and can bind DNA.
Mechlorethamine: toxicities
highly toxic, myelosuppression, severe N/V, severe vesicant (hits skin or lungs and causes severe blistering) and local toxicity if extravasation occurs (leakage of solution around vein), hepatotoxic, rare secondary cases of hemolytic anemia or leukemia many years later
Mechlorethamine: ADME
So reactive that it reacts with water and biomolecules very quickly after administration
Chlorambucil
Leukeran. Alkylating agents/Nitrogen Mustards.
Chlorambucil: Uses
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), lymphosarcoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Administered PO
Chlorambucil: Mechanism
Active intact but less active than mechlorethamine. The electrons on the aromatic nitrogen are not as basic and the formation of the aziridinium ion is slower. Must be activated by N-dealkylation to form the aziridine ion.