2.2 Alkylating agents

Question 1

What are the 5 different classes of chemotherapy?

Answer 1

- Alkylating agents
- Antimtabolites
- Topoisomerase inhbitors
- Mitotic inhibitors
- Anti tumour antibiotics

Question 2

Which broad class of chemotherapy do Alkylating agents belong to?

Answer 2

Non cell cycle specific chemotherapy

Question 3

What are the 5 classes of alkylating agents?

Answer 3

• Nitrogen mustards
• Aziridines
• Nitrosoureas
• Hydrazines
• Tetrazines

Question 4

Give an example of 2 common Nitrogen Mustards

Answer 4

• Mephalan
• Chlorambucil

Question 5

Give an example of one Aziridine

Answer 5

Thiotepa

Question 6

Give an example of two Nitrosoureas

Answer 6

• Carmoustine
• Lomustine

Question 7

Give an example of a Hydrazine

Answer 7

Tomozolomide

Question 8

Give an example of a tetrazine

Answer 8

Decarbazine

Question 9

Which types of cancer are alkylating agents used to treat?

Answer 9

Solid Tumours

Heamatological malignancies

Question 10

What is the mode of action of Alkylating agents?

Answer 10

Alkylating agents exert their effect by:

• Attaching an alkyl group to the DNA,
• Crosslinking the N-7-guanine residues.
• Causing DNA strand breaks
• And abnormal base pairing,

Question 11

Are platinum based drugs Alkylating agents

Answer 11

Yes

Question 12

Give an example of 3 platinum based drugs and comment on toxicity

Answer 12

Cisplatin
- N&V +++ & nephrotoxic

Oliplatin
- N&V plus sensory neuropathy

Ocaliplatin
- More favourable side effect profile

Question 13

What is the suffix for all platinum based drugs?

Answer 13

Platin