Therapeutics, Radiotherapy and Other Anti-Cancer Treatments Flashcards
What are the two types of radiation?
NON-IONISING
IONISING
What are some types of ionising radiation?
- ELECTROMAGNETIC - X-rays and gamma rays
- PARTICULATE - Protons, electrons and neutrons
How can radiotherapy be used?
- Can be used on its own
- Or to complement/ehance effects of other treatments
What is the principle target of ionising radiation?
DNA
Describe the two types of action in radiotherapy
- Direct DNA damage to cause cell death
- Production of free radicals to induce DNA damage
Describe gamma rays used in ionising radiation.
- Produced spontaenously as certain elements that release radiation as they decompose/decay
Describe intensity modulated radiotherapy.
- Delivers controlled doses of radiation to malignant tumours
- Targets tumour, protects vital organs and reduce undesirable side effects
What are the aims of radiotherapy?
- CURATIVE
- PALLIATIVE
What are the types of radiotherapy?
- External beam radiotherapy - radiation delivered by machines
- Brachytherapy - radioactive substances placed in vicinity of cancer - deliver radiation
What is different about cancer cells that allows them to be affected by radiotheraoy?
- Don’t have the same repair mechanisms that normal cells have
How is cancer treatment prepared?
- Locate tumour by imaging
- Identify position, shape andsize of tumour
- Apply beams of radiation to treat patient
How are tumours localised?
- CT scanning
- Computer simulation to plan treatment - determine number of treatment beams, size, shape and direction
What are the toxicities of radiotherapy?
- Varies based on organ treated and neabry structures
- Skin reactions - common
- May produce long term damage
What does brachytherapy involve?
- Insertion of radioactive sources into tumour
- Left in permanently (as with prostate brachytherapy) or inserted for short period of time before removal
Describe molecular radiotherapy.
- Radio-isotopes attahced to molecule that has ability to attach to target organ
- Targeted towards the cancer
How does radioactive liquid therapy target cancer cells?
- Radioactive atoms attached to carrier molecules targeting tumour
- Liquid containing these molecules introduced into bloodstream
- Molecules carried to tumour site
- Tumour destroyed
What are the atoms used in radioactive liquid therapy targeting thyroid cancer?
IODINE
Describe palliative radiation.
- Relive symptoms from advanced lung cancer e.g pain, refractory cough, hemoptysis and dyspnea
