Systemic Anti Cancer Treatments Flashcards
What is the aim of anti-cancer therapies?
To stop growth of cancer, spread of cancer and eradicate it overall
What is the purpose of chemotherapy and method?
Targets cell cycle of rapidly dividing cells. Targets DNA, RNA and Proteins and forces the cells into apoptosis
When is chemotherapy given to a patient and why?
When tumour cells are in their most vulnerable stage of replication only. This allows time for the other body cells to recover
What are the major side effects of chemotherapy?
Diarrhoea, nausea vomiting and alopecia (hair loss)
What are the 3 setting that chemotherapy could be given in?
Neo-adjuvant (before surgery)
Adjuvant (after surgery to prevent reappearance)
Disease control Palliative (to reduce symptoms and give better quality of life, not cure)
What are the 3 types of chemotherapy?
Alkylating agents, anti-metabolites and organic drugs
What is the function of alkylating agents?
Type of chemo which blocks all stages of DNA replication cell cycle
What is the function of anti-metabolites?
Mimic essential molecules for DNA replication, e.g. enzymes, so S-phase is blocked
What do organic drugs act against and what are the 3 types?
Act against M-phase of cell cycle.
Vinca alkaloids, taxanes (both affect muscle spindle) and anthracyclines
What are hormonal therapies?
Act against cancers that arise as a result of prolonged exposure to specific hormones, e.g. breast cancer as a result of high levels of oestrogen exposure
What are 2 hormonal therapy methods for breast cancer?
tamoxifen - Anti-oestrogen drugs bing to oestrogen, blocking proliferation and reducing no.of cells
letrozole - Aromatase inhibitor prevents conversion of androgens to oestrogen
What are targetted therapies and 2 examples?
Therapies slightly more specific to a specific cancers mechanism, but not completely. E.g. tyrosine kinase inhibitor or CDK 4/6 inhibitor
How does CDK4/6 therapy work?
CDK4/6 has a higher activity in HER2 breast cancer, and its job is to bind to cyclin D and push cells from G0 - G1 in cell cycle. CDK4/6 inhibitor also inhibits HER2
How does tyrosine kinase inhibitor work? Which cancers can it work on?
Certain cancer’s cells require the binding of EGF to their tyrosine kinase. Blocking tyrosine kinase inhibits the binding of EGF.
Works on lung, breast and bile cancers
What is a mechanism for immunotherapy?
Inhibiting immune checkpoints, which are part of the normal, functioning immune system. This meant T-cells have a higher activity which can be used to target tumours
