Blue Book: Target Agents

Question 1

Name 3 types of Targeted agents.

Answer 1

Monoclonal antibodies (end in -mab)
eg Trastuzumab (herceptin)
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (-ib)
eg Sunitinib
mTor inhibitors (end in -us)
eg everolimus

Question 2

Broadly speaking how do they work?

Answer 2

Aim to target over-expressed or mutant proteins (e.g. tyrosine kinases)

Question 3

Why are targeted drugs dosed chronically?

Answer 3

1) better tolerated

2) ongoing target blockade maybe necessary for benefit.

Question 4

Patients take the drugs for months to years. Chronic dosing lead to what?

Answer 4

1. Chronic toxicity: low grade symptoms: mild diarrhoea, taste change, rash can affect QoL.
2. Emergent toxicity: may become apparent months of treatment e.g. thyroid disturbance in sunitinib
3. Risk of drug reaction
4. Cost