Therapeutics Flashcards
Risk factors of N&V secondary to chemotherapy?
- anxiety
- age less than 50 years old
- concurrent use of opioids
- the type of chemotherapy used
Which anti-emetics may be used to treat N&V in chemotherapy?
For patients at low-risk of symptoms then drugs such as metoclopramide may be used first-line.
For high-risk patients then 5HT3 receptor antagonists such as ondansetron are often effective, especially if combined with dexamethasone
What is cyclophosphamide and how does it work?
An alkylating agent used in the management of cancer and autoimmune conditions.
It works by causing cross-linking of DNA
Cyclophosphamide adverse affects
haemorrhagic cystitis
myelosuppression
transitional cell carcinoma
How can the incidence of haemorrhagic cystitis in cyclophosphamide use be reduced?
Use of hydration and mesna
What is mesna and why is it used?
2-mercaptoethane sulfonate Na
a metabolite of cyclophosphamide called acrolein is toxic to urothelium
- mesna binds to and inactivates acrolein helping to prevent haemorrhagic cystitis
Cytotoxic agents: antibiotic examples?
Bleomycin
Anthracyclines (e.g doxorubicin)
What is the action of bleomycin?
Degrades preformed DNA
What is the action of anthracyclines e.g. doxorubicin?
Stabilizes DNA-topoisomerase II complex inhibits DNA & RNA synthesis
Cytotoxic agents: major adverse affect of bleomycin?
Lung fibrosis
Cytotoxic agents: major adverse affect of anthracyclines e.g. doxorubicin?
Cardiomyopathy
Cytotoxic agents: antimetabolite examples
Methotrexate
Fluorouracil (5-FU)
6-mercaptopurine
Cytarabine
Methotrexate mechanism of action?
Inhibits dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthesis
Fluorouracil (5-FU) mechanism of action?
Pyrimidine analogue inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by blocking thymidylate synthase (works during S phase)
6-mercaptopurine mechanism of action?
Purine analogue that is activated by HGPRTase, decreasing purine synthesis
Cytarabine mechanism of action?
Pyrimidine antagonist. Interferes with DNA synthesis specifically at the S-phase of the cell cycle and inhibits DNA polymerase
Cytarabine major adverse affects?
Myelosuppression
Ataxia
6-mercaptopurine major adverse affect?
Myelosuppression
Fluorouracil (5-FU) major adverse affects?
Myelosuppression, mucositis, dermatitis
Methotrexate major adverse affects?
Myelosuppression, mucositis, liver fibrosis, lung fibrosis
Examples of cytotoxic agents that act on microtubules
Vincristine, vinblastine
Docetaxel
Docetaxel major adverse affect?
Neutropenia
Docetaxel mechanism of action?
Prevents microtubule depolymerisation & disassembly, decreasing free tubulin
Vincristine, vinblastine mechanism of action?
Inhibits formation of microtubules
Vincristine major adverse affects?
Peripheral neuropathy (reversible) , paralytic ileus