8. targeted therapy in cancer Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 8. targeted therapy in cancer Deck (10)
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1
Q

what do targeted therapy in cancer do?

A

Exploits biological weaknesses in tumours

  • Faulty genes
  • Faulty signalling systems
  • Tumour growth
  • Angiogenesis
2
Q

Tamoxifen

A

Hormone based therapy

  • Blocks oestrogen as a selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM)
  • Prevents breast cancer- stops spread
  • Reduces growth of oestrogen-driven breast cancer
  • Used in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer
  • As a receptor modulator: prevents bone loss via oestrogenic effects
  • Early menopause as blocking effect of oestrogen
3
Q

which hormone promotes growth in metastatic cells

A

oestrogen

4
Q

Aromatase inhibitors

A
  • Prevents peripheral conversion of androgen to oestrogen
  • second approach following tamoxifen
5
Q

HER2 receptor

A
  • Naturally present in low levels
  • But over expressed in some cancers eg breast cancer
    • More likely in older patients
  • Due to oncogene (ERBB2)
  • Affects gene transcription and cell cycle
    *
6
Q

Trastuzumab

A
  • Monoclonal antibody- specific
  • Targets human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)
  • Early breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer with HER2 positive tumours
  • prevents production of VEGF
7
Q

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (eGFR)

A
  • ‘Small molecule’ approach
  • Certain Lung and pancreatic cancers
  • Inhibits tyrosine kinase to target over proliferation of receptor
8
Q

Tyrosine kinase activity which chromosome can cause activity

A
  • Philadelphia Chromosome associated with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
  • Ph chromosome produces bcr-abl protein which has tyrosine kinase activity.
  • Tyrosine kinase leads to uncontrolled cell proliferation
  • Imatinib inhibits TK activity
  • Selective inhibitor very effective for Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
  • Trials - >90% pts with CML alive after 5 years
  • Gastro-intestinal stroma tumours
9
Q

Proteasome inhibitor

A
  • Proteasomes: cellular structures which degrade proteins- including those that have pro-apoptotic factors
  • Inhibition of intracellular proteasomes alters the regulation of intracellular proteins
10
Q

Anti-VEGF

A

also targeted