Targeted Tx's Flashcards
What features characterize an ideal target for targeted cancer tx?
- crucial for cancer growth/survival,
- not sig expressed in vital organs/tissues,
- minimal/no tox in non-tumor cells,
- measurable in easily obtained samples,
- clinical response in majority of pts whose tumors express the target when target is interrupted/inhibited,
- target doesn’t have mutations/variants
Most common cancers that undergo endocrine tx’s?
breast cancers, prostate cancer, endometrial cancers, ovarian cancers
What’s tamoxifen used for?
Breast cancer
tamoxifen MOA
estrogen antagonist in breast cancer cells;
agonist effects on endometrium, bone, and lipids
T or F: Tamoxifen is appropriate for breast cancer in females only.
F
In males too
AEs of tamoxifen
flushing, hot flashes, edema (menopause-like sx’s), thromboembolic events, mood changes, arthralgia, weakness
What’s a major risk of taking tamoxifen?
Endometrial cancer
What’s second line endocrine tx for breast cancer?
Fulvestrant
Fulvestrant MOA
Estrogen receptor antagonist
When is fulvestrant used?
Advanced, hormone-receptor positive breast cancer
–>i.e. when breast cancer becomes tamoxifen-resistant or when it metastasizes
Aromatase inhibitor MOA
blocks estrogen PRODUCTION
Why are aromatase inhibitors only used in post-menopausal women?
bc it can’t overcome the amt of estrogen produced by the ovaries of pre-menopausal women
Name the two nonsteroidal, reversible inhibitors of aromatse
anastrozole, letrozole
Name the steroidal, irreversible aromatase inhibitor
exemestane
AEs of aromatase inhibitors?
hot flashes and flushing
HTN
Osteopenia/osteoporosis
weakness, arthralgia
fatigue
List the androgen deprivation tx’s used for prostate cancer
Luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists
LHRH antagonist
abiraterone
androgen receptor blockers
What is NOT an effective tx for prostate cancer?
5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (e.g. finasteride, dutasteride)
Leuprolide and goserelin are examples of…
LHRH agonists
MOA of LHRH agonists (leuprolide and goserelin)
down-regulation of hypothalamus-pituitary axis
What’s important to know when starting LHRH agonist tx?
There’s an initial “flare” response
What can be Rx’ed to tx the initial flare from LHRH agonists?
bicalutamide for 14-30d
What LHRH antagonist is used for prostate cancer?
degarelix
MOA of degarelix?
blocks pituitary receptors > reduces LH and FSH secretion > rapid decrease in testosterone production
T or F: Degarelix causes an initial flare.
F
What’s abiraterone?
androgen biosynthesis inhibitor
MOA of abiraterone
Inhibits CYP17 > blocks androgen production in testes, adrenal glands, and tumour
What unique AE does abiraterone cause as a result of its MOA?
Reduces cortisol production > causes increased ACTH > causes accumulation of mineralocorticoids > HTN, hypokalemia, edema
What’s given in combo with abiraterone? Why?
Prednisone > prevents compensatory rise in ACTH
Name 4 androgen receptor blockers
Bicalutamide, flutamide, enzalutamide, apalutamide
Androgen deprivation tx’s: AEs
Urinary sx’s, gynecomastia, hot flashes, reduced libido and ED, fatigue, wt gain, loss of muscle mass, osteopenia/-porosis, MI/increased QT
Name the 5 classes of small molecule drugs (and the suffixes used in each drug class)
- tyrosine kinase inhibitors (-tinib)
- proteasome inhibitor (-zomib)
- cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (-ciclib)
- poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor (-parib)
- mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitor (-irolimus)
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor MOA?
Intracellularly block signals from activated trans-membrane proteins by competing w/ ATP for the TK region of the trans-membrane receptor
Epidermal growth factors receptors - list them
HER1/2/3/4
Another name for HER1 receptors?
EGFR
What do the epidermal growth factors receptors do?
They ctrl cell differentiation, proliferation, and survival
Through which pathway do the epidermal growth factors receptors act?
Tyrosine kinase pathway (TKP)
4 EGFR inhibitors for non-small cell lung carcinoma:
- erlotinib
- gefitinib
- afatinib
- osimertinib
These two EGFR inhibitors target the EGFR tyrosine kinase cytosolic domain
erlotinib, gefitinib
This EGFR inhibitor targets EGFR, HER2, HER4, and HER3 (transphorylation of it)
afatinib
Which EGFR inhibitor isn’t used often?
osimertinib
Diarrhea is a huge AE of this EGFR inhibitor
afatinib
HER2 is overexpressed in what types of cancers?
15% of breast cancer cases, and some gastroesophageal cancers
AEs of HER2 agents?
rash, D, cardiotox, hepatotox
Specific HER-2 agents?
lapatinib
Name VEGF inhibitors
axitinib
What do VEGF inhibitors do?
Reduce/prevent angiogenesis of tumors
What kind of cancer is tx’ed w/ VEGF inhibitors?
Renal cell carcinoma
AEs of VEGF inhibitors?
HTN, bleeding, impaired wound healing
What do multikinase inhibitors target?
> 1 tyrosine kinase region in the cytoplasmic side of transmembrane protein receptors
What’re sunitinib and pazopanib?
multikinase inhibitors
sunitinib and pazopanib: how do they help tx cancer?
inhibit tumor growth, cellular proliferation, and angiogenesis
What’re sunitinib and pazopanib used to tx?
renal cell carcinoma
Unique AEs of sunitinib and pazopanib?
- hand foot skin rxn (HFSR) aka plantar palmar erythrodysethesia (PPE)
- discoloration of nails and/or hair (yellow or white)
Why is bleeding an AE of sunitinib and pazopanib?
Due to VEGF-inhibition activity
How do sorafenib and regorafenib work?
inhibit cellular proliferation and tumor angiogensis
What’s sorafenib used for?
hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma