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What is the primary purpose of monoclonal antibodies in cancer treatment?
What is the main advantage of nanoparticle-based delivery in cancer treatment?
What is the primary mechanism of action of ligand-drug conjugates in cancer treatment?
What is the main goal of hormone therapy in cancer treatment?
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What is the primary advantage of targeted therapy in cancer treatment?
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What is the primary mechanism of action of trastuzumab (Herceptin) in cancer treatment?
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What is the primary goal of combination approaches in cancer treatment?
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What is the primary mechanism of action of rituximab in cancer treatment?
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What is the primary advantage of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in cancer treatment?
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Study Notes
Targeted Therapy in Cancer
- Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that controls how cancer cells grow, divide, and spread.
- It is the foundation of precision medicine.
Types of Targeted Therapy in Cancer
- Small-molecule drugs:
- Have a low molecular weight that can easily enter cancer cells.
- Specifically target substances within the cell, blocking their function.
- Have advantages like high potency and low toxicity due to their ability to spare normal cells.
- Monoclonal antibodies (MABs):
- Engineered proteins produced in the lab to attach to specific targets found on cancer cells.
- Can mark cancer cells, making them more visible to the immune system for destruction.
Key Characteristics of Monoclonal Antibodies
- Exquisite Specificity: MABs precisely recognize cancer-related proteins.
- Long Serum Half-Life: They persist in the bloodstream, allowing sustained therapeutic effects.
- High Affinity: MABs bind tightly to their targets.
- Immune Effector Functions: They can engage immune responses against cancer cells.
Strategies of Targeted Therapy Against Cancer
- Help the immune system destroy cancer cells.
- Stop cancer cells from growing by interrupting signals that cause them to grow and divide without order.
- Stop signals that block blood vessel formation.
- Deliver cell-killing substances to cancer cells.
- Starve cancer of hormones needed for growth.
Monoclonal Antibodies
- Can be combined with toxins, chemotherapy drugs, or radiation.
- Enhance specificity by targeting cancer-specific markers.
- Examples include trastuzumab (Herceptin) for HER2-positive breast cancer and rituximab for B-cell lymphomas.
Cancer Vaccines
- Definition: Cancer vaccines are a form of immunotherapy designed to educate the immune system about what cancer cells “look like”.
- Objective: They help the immune system recognize and eliminate cancer cells.
- Unlike preventive vaccines, cancer treatment vaccines focus on existing cancer cells.
- Types of Cancer Vaccines:
- Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: Elicit de novo T cell responses targeting tumor antigens.
- Antigen Selection and Delivery Systems: Researchers have pioneered cancer vaccine design by selecting appropriate antigens and developing effective antigen-delivery systems.
Cytokines
- Soluble proteins that mediate cell communication within the tumor microenvironment (TME).
- Interleukins (ILs) and interferons (IFNs) are examples of cytokines that have been extensively studied.
- Challenges:
- High toxicity due to systemic effects.
- Low efficacy, especially in advanced-stage cancers.
- Short half-life and biodistribution.
Immunotherapy Administration
- Different forms of immunotherapy may be given in different ways:
- Intravenous (IV).
- Oral.
- Topical.
- Intravesical.
Advantages and Challenges of Immunotherapy
- Advantages:
- Precision: Targets cancer cells while sparing normal tissues.
- Reduced Toxicity: Fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.
- Personalization: Tailored to individual patients based on tumor characteristics.
- Challenges and Future Directions:
- Clinical Response Rate: Continual efforts are needed to improve overall response rates.
- Biomarkers: Identifying biomarkers can guide treatment selection.
- Combination Approaches: Combining immunotherapy with other modalities may enhance efficacy.
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Description
This quiz covers the application of targeted therapy in cancer treatment, including its role in precision medicine and its effects on cancer cell growth and the immune system.
