Cancer Therapy Types

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Questions and Answers

What is the basis for calculating drug dosages in chemotherapy?

Body surface area

What is the advantage of combination drug chemotherapy over single-drug treatment?

Higher response rates

What is the mechanism of action of aromatase inhibitors in hormone sensitive breast cancer?

Downregulation of androgen production

What is the benefit of intermittent chemotherapy administration?

Allowing recovery of the patient's immune system Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of targeted therapy?

Targeting pathways critical for cancer cell growth and survival Signup and view all the answers

What is a common adverse effect of chemotherapy?

Bone Marrow Depression (BMD) Signup and view all the answers

What is the mechanism of action of corticosteroids in some lymphomas and multiple myeloma?

Inhibition of cancer cell growth Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of hormone sensitive prostate cancer treatment?

Decrease of androgen production Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in chemotherapy-induced neutropenia?

To shorten the duration of neutropenia Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism of 5HT3 antagonists in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting?

Inhibiting the release of serotonin from the gut Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary adverse effect associated with gonadal damage induced by chemotherapy?

Amenorrhea and azoospermia Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of autacoids in the body?

Acting as local hormones with a brief duration Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary action of vasoactive peptides on vascular smooth muscles?

Having a mixed effect on vascular smooth muscles Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism of histamine release in an allergic response?

Through the activation of H1 receptors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary complication of tumor lysis syndrome?

Seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, and renal toxicity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method of preventing hair loss during chemotherapy?

Using a cooling cap to cool the scalp Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of adjuvant chemotherapy?

To kill any remaining cancer cells after primary treatment Signup and view all the answers

Which classification of anticancer drugs targets specific phases of the cell cycle?

Cell Cycle Specific (CCS) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of palliative treatment?

To relieve symptoms and improve quality of life Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of neo-adjuvant therapy?

To make primary treatment easier or more effective Signup and view all the answers

What is the classification of anticancer drugs that include alkylating agents and antibiotics?

Cell Cycle Non-Specific (CCNS) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of hormonal therapy in cancer treatment?

To target hormone-sensitive cancers Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of adjuvant chemotherapy over curative chemotherapy?

It is used to kill remaining cancer cells after primary treatment Signup and view all the answers

What is the general principle in prescribing anticancer drugs?

To follow specific guidelines and considerations Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classification of Anticancer Drugs

Classic Anticancer Drugs:
- Classified according to phase of cell cycle
- Examples: Corticosteroids (used in some lymphomas and multiple myeloma), Hormonal Therapy (used in Hormone Sensitive Breast Cancer and Hormone Sensitive Prostate Cancer)
Targeted Therapy:
- Targets pathways critical for cancer cell survival and growth
- Designed to improve outcomes while reducing Systemic Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR)
- Examples: Monoclonal antibodies (-mabs), Small molecules (-nibs), Conjugated (e.g. iodine I131 tositumomab)

Hormonal Therapy

Hormone Sensitive Breast Cancer:
- A. Suppression of estrogen secretion
- B. Ovarian ablation (radiotherapy)
- C. Estrogen receptors Blockade
- D. Aromatase Inhibitors (↓ conversion of androgen to estrogen)
Hormone Sensitive Prostate Cancer:
- ↓ production or block androgen receptors

Treatment Protocols

Drug dosages are calculated based on body surface area
Combination drug chemotherapy is more successful than single-drug treatment
Criteria for combining drugs:
- Each drug is effective alone
- Acts on different steps in the cell cycle
- Should be sequential
- No overlap toxicity

Adverse Effects

Hematologic Toxicity: Bone Marrow Depression (BMD)
General Adverse Effects:
- Neutropenia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Anemia
- Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV)
- Pain
- Hair loss
- Resistance
- Gonadal damage
- Teratogenicity and mutagenicity
- Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)

Autacoids

Defined as biological factors that act like local hormones, have a brief duration, and act near their site of synthesis
Classification:
- Small Molecules: Amine (histamine and serotonin), Nitric oxide, Adenosine
- Vasoactive Peptides: Vasoconstrictors (Angiotensin II, Endothelins, Neuropeptide Y), Vasodilators (Bradykinin, Natriuretic Peptide, Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
- Lipids: Eicosanoids (prostaglandins and Leukotrienes), Endocannabinoids

Histamine

Release:
- Immunogenic: Antigen/Antibody Reaction
- Drug Induced: Morphine, Atropine, Vancomycin
H1 Receptors:
- Allergic response: Redness & edema
- Sensory nerve stimulation → pain & itching

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