Treatment of cancer

Question 1

what are the origins of chemotherapy and what were the role in cancer treatment

Answer 1

The Discovery of Chemical Agents (1940s): Mustard Gas and Nitrogen Mustard: The pivotal moment in chemotherapy’s origin came during World War II 1942: The first clinical use of mustine, was used to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma, one of the first cancers to be treated with chemotherapy. alkylating agents

Question 2

what are the different classes of cytotoxic drugs, their mechanisms of action and toxicity Alkylating agents

Answer 2

ALKYLATING AGENTS:
mechanism- Alkylating agents work by adding an alkyl group causing DNA crosslinking, which prevents the DNA strands from uncoiling and replicating properly. This leads to DNA damage, apoptosis or inhibition of cell division.
e.g temozolide, cisplatin
toxicity: Bone marrow suppression
Nausea and vomiting
Alopecia, Infertility, Secondary cancers

Question 3

what are the different classes of cytotoxic drugs, their mechanisms of action and toxicity - antimetabolites

Answer 3

ANTI-METABLOTES: Antimetabolites interfere with DNA and RNA synthesis by mimicking nucleotides or RNA. These drugs disrupt the synthesis of nucleotides, which are necessary for DNA replication and repair, leading to impaired cell division. Folate antagonists: Inhibit folic acid metabolism (e.g., methotrexate). Purine and pyrimidine analogs: Mimic purines or pyrimidines like flurouracil which are essential for nucleic acid synthesis.
e.g Methotrexate (folate antagonist)
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) (pyrimidine analog)
Mercaptopurine (purine analog)
Cytarabine (pyrimidine analog)

Toxicity: Bone marrow suppression (leading to neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia)
Gastrointestinal toxicity (nausea, vomiting, mucositis)
Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)
Hair loss
Renal toxicity (especially with methotrexate at high doses)

Question 4

what are the different classes of cytotoxic drugs, their mechanisms of action and toxicity- mitotic inhibitors

Answer 4

disrupting the function of microtubules during mitosis, leading to cell cycle arrest. some drugs inhibit microtubule formation, while others prevent the breakdown of microtubules, thereby blocking mitosis. Examples: Vincristine, Vinblastine, Paclitaxel (Taxol), Docetaxel.
Toxicity:
Neurotoxicity:
Bone marrow suppression:
Gastrointestinal toxicity:
Allergic reactions
Cardiovascular effects: Docetaxel can cause fluid retention and cardiotoxicity.

Question 5

what are the different classes of cytoxic drugs : mechanisms, action and toxicity- antibiotics

Answer 5

These drugs intercalate into DNA, preventing the transcription of RNA and DNA replication. Some also generate free radicals that damage the DNA, causing strand breaks.d
e.g Examples: Doxorubicin, Bleomycin, Daunorubicin, Mitomycin C.
Toxicity:
Cardiotoxicity
Pulmonary toxicity
Bone marrow suppression
Gastrointestinal effects