(SYNOPTIC) New + Emerging Cancer Treatments

Question 1

What does ‘ADEPT’ refer to?

Answer 1

Antibody-directed enzyme prodrug

(1) Design of an mAb developed against a tumour associated antigen
(2) Antibody-enzyme complex then administered
(3) Prodrug is given which is converted to active metabolite by the enzyme

Question 2

What are some advantages of ADEPT?

Answer 2

• reduced systemic toxicity
• opportunity to overcome drug resistance
• amplification of the drug effect

Question 3

What are some challenges of ADEPT?

Answer 3

• immune responses to antibody-enzyme complexes
• cost
• identification of appropriate cancer antigen targets

Question 4

What does ‘GDEPT’ refer to?

Answer 4

Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy

Mirrors ADEPT but gene therapy is used to deliver enzyme required to convert prodrug

Question 5

What does ‘PDEPT’ refer to?

Answer 5

Polymer-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy

Polymeric prodrug + polymer-enzyme conjugate
- to generate cytotoxic drug selectively at the tumour site

Question 6

What does ‘MDEPT’ refer to?

Answer 6

Melanocyte-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy

Question 7

What is Breslow thickness?

Answer 7

Scale used to classify the thickness of the tumour

Question 8

What is Clark’s level?

Answer 8

Scale used to classify the depth of the tumour

Question 9

How can synthesis of unusual carbohydrates on a cell surface be problematic?

Answer 9

Believed that they interact with lectins in blood vessels
- lectins = carbohydrate-binding proteins

Allowing migration of tumour to occur

-> metastases

Question 10

Introduction of what functional groups onto molecules on cell surfaces of a cancer call help to bind a wide range of structures, via covalent bonding?

Answer 10

Ketone groups