Principles of Systemic Therapy Flashcards
indications for systemic therapy
- primary treatment
- adjuvant
- neoadjuvant
- palliation
- radio-sensitization
local treatment modalities for cancer
surgery, radiotherapy
systemic treatment modalities for cancer
conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy
gompertzian growth curve
growth fraction: % of cells that are in active cell division
growth rate: rate of growth of tumor cells, peaks before tumor is clinically detectable
phases of gompertzian growth curve
- lag phase
- logarithmic phase
- plateau phase
t/f chemo acts mainly on cells actively dividing or growing
true, best in cells in logarithmic phase
at around ___ of maximum, growth becomes clinically detectable
75%, it takes only a few more divisions before it becomes lethal
logarithmic kill model
- when chemo is administered, a constant fraction of tumor cells will die (3 log cell kill)
- 1 log regrowth in between sessions
3 checkpoints for successful replication in the cell cycle
between g1 and s, end of g2, directly in m phase
targets of cytotoxic drugs
antimetabolites, antibiotics, alkylating agents: s phase (get incorporated into dna leading to mutations and cell death)
vinca alkaloids, taxanes: m phase (attach to mircotubules during mitosis)
what are alkylating agents
- cell cycle phase nonspecific (throughout cell cycle)
- busulfan, carmustine, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, melphalan
what are antimetabolites
- interfere with purine and pyrimidine synthesis, active in s phase
what are mitotic inhibitors
- inhibits mitosis by disaggregating microtubules (vinca alkyloids)
- disruptive polymerization (toxoids)
- active in m phase
what are antibiotics
- bind to dna to generate free radicals that consequently cause dna damage
- affect key enzyme in dna synthesis
principles of combination chemo
- prevention of resistant clones
- cyototoxic to both resting and dividing cells
- biochemical enhancement of effect
- rescue from adverse effects of treatment
5fu and ___ have an enhancement effect, while ___ with leucovorin have a protective effect in primary cns lymphomas
5fu + leucovorin in colon cancer: enhancing
methotrexate + leucovorin: rescue from adverse effects
other types of cytotoxic drugs
l asparagine depletion - l asapraginase
ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor - hydroxyurea
non-classic alkylating agents - procarbazine
topoisomerase II - etoposide and teniposide
how can chemotherapy be given
iv, opd, during in-patient confinement, oral (ex. capecitabine)