Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of treatment in advanced stages of cancer?
What is the primary goal of treatment in advanced stages of cancer?
Which category of chemotherapy is administered before surgery to shrink the tumor?
Which category of chemotherapy is administered before surgery to shrink the tumor?
Which advantage is NOT associated with combination chemotherapy?
Which advantage is NOT associated with combination chemotherapy?
What is a significant mechanism of drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy?
What is a significant mechanism of drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of therapy focuses specifically on symptom relief during cancer treatment?
What type of therapy focuses specifically on symptom relief during cancer treatment?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a mechanism of drug resistance exhibited by tumor cells towards methotrexate?
What is a mechanism of drug resistance exhibited by tumor cells towards methotrexate?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following anticancer drugs is specifically classified as an alkylating agent?
Which of the following anticancer drugs is specifically classified as an alkylating agent?
Signup and view all the answers
What common side effect is associated with many cytotoxic anticancer drugs?
What common side effect is associated with many cytotoxic anticancer drugs?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following correctly describes the mechanism of action of alkylating agents?
Which of the following correctly describes the mechanism of action of alkylating agents?
Signup and view all the answers
Which characteristic defines P-glycoprotein's role in multidrug resistance in tumor cells?
Which characteristic defines P-glycoprotein's role in multidrug resistance in tumor cells?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Lecture 8: Anticancer Drugs
- Anticancer drugs are chemotherapeutic agents used to treat cancer.
- Types of anticancer drugs include alkylating agents, antimetabolites, and mitotic inhibitors.
Hallmarks of Cancer
- Rapid uncontrolled cell proliferation
- Malignant transformation
- Loss of function
- Resistance to apoptosis
- Inducing angiogenesis
- Invasion and metastasis
- Avoiding immune destruction
Proliferation, Differentiation, and Undifferentiation
- Cancer cells have a faster doubling time compared to normal cells.
- Cancer cells lose their normal shape and structure.
- Differentiation is lost in cancer cells.
Cell Cycle Regulators
- Positive regulators: growth factors acting on protein kinase receptors
- Negative regulators: P53, BRCA1, BRCA2
Cancer Cell Cycle Kinetics
- Some anticancer drugs act specifically on cycling cells (cell cycle-specific (CCS) drugs).
- Others kill tumor cells in both cycling and resting phases (cell cycle-nonspecific (CCNS) drugs).
- Cycling cells are more sensitive to CCS drugs.
Anticancer Drugs: Mechanism and Action
- Alkylating agents: DNA cross-linking, disrupting DNA function
- Antimetabolites : Interfere with nucleic acid synthesis by mimicking essential natural molecules.
- Antibiotics: Interact with DNA and/or RNA, leading to DNA damage or disruption
- Microtubule inhibitors: Disrupt microtubule formation, affecting cell division
- Hormones & Antagonists: Hormones bind to target cells, causing uncontrolled growth. Antagonist drugs interfere with the hormone effect
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors: Block enzymes for growth and division
- Monoclonal antibodies (MABs): Bind to specific proteins on cancer cells, inhibiting their growth
Principles of Cancer Chemotherapy
- Cancer chemotherapy aims to cause a lethal cytotoxic event or apoptosis in cancer cells and arrest tumor growth.
- The attack is usually directed toward DNA or against metabolic sites essential for cell replication to block or damage cancer cells.
Treatment Strategies
- The ultimate goal of chemotherapy is a cure (long-term disease-free survival).
- Some tumors are treated for eradication of every neoplastic cell, but others can only be treated to control the disease.
Resistance to Anticancer Drugs
- Increased DNA repair
- Formation of trapping agents
- Changes in target enzymes
- Decreased activation of prodrugs
- Decreased drug accumulation
Adverse Effects of Anticancer Drugs
- Bone marrow toxicity (myelosuppression)
- Impaired wound healing
- Hair loss (alopecia)
- Damage to gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium
- Hepatotoxicity
- Sterility
- Teratogenicity and carcinogenicity
Classes of Anticancer Drugs
- Alkylating agents
- Antimetabolites
- Cytotoxic antibiotics
- Microtubule inhibitors
- Hormone antagonists
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Miscellaneous agents
1- Alkylating Agents
- Includes nitrogen mustards, nitrosoureas, and platinum compounds
- Mechanism of action is DNA cross-linking.
2- Antimetabolites
- Structurally related to normal compounds found in cells
- Interfere with nucleic acid synthesis
3- Antibiotics
- Cytotoxic action primarily due to their interactions with DNA
4- Microtubule Inhibitors
- Disrupt microtubule formation, affecting cell division
5- Hormones and Their Antagonists
- Some tumors are hormone-dependent (e.g., breast and prostate cancers).
- Hormone antagonists are used in the treatment of these tumors.
6- Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
- Tyrosine kinases are involved in cell growth and division.
- These inhibitors block the activity of specific tyrosine kinases.
7- Monoclonal Antibodies
- They are designed to bind to specific protein targets on the surface of cancer cells.
8- Miscellaneous Agents
- Includes agents like Bortezomib and Interferons
- Act through various mechanisms to attack tumors.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Test your knowledge on cancer treatment and chemotherapy with this quiz. Explore topics related to drug resistance, chemotherapy classifications, and palliative care. Perfect for students and professionals looking to sharpen their understanding of oncology.
