cancer therapy Flashcards
(59 cards)
Name the 7 types of cancer therapy
- hormone therapy
- surgery
- bone marrow transplantation
- chemotherapy
- targeted therapy
- radiation therapy
- immunotherapy
Name the five pillars of cancer care
- surgery
- radiotherapy
- cytotoxic chemotherapy
- molecularly targeted therapy
- immunotherapy
How can surgery be used in cancer treatment?
- prevent cancer: removal of precancerous conditions (atypical moles, polyps to prevent colon cancer, removal of breast and ovaries
- diagnose and stage cancer: biopsy
- remove cancer (most effective at early stages)
- relieve symptoms (control spread, pain and haemorhages; surgical reconstruction)
- lower chance of recurrence (remove nearby normal tissue)
- repair damaged tissue (reconstructive or cosmetic)
- support other treatments (provide direct access to blood vessels, place special pump to deliver drugs)
- support body function (support breathing, getting enough nutritions)
Name two types of biopsies and explain them
incisional biopsy: part of the tumor is cut out
excisional biopsy: entire tissue is cut out
Explain different types of radiation therapy
- external beam radiation therapy: ionizing radiation (mostly photons) delivered by a linear accelerator, temporary
- internal radiation therapy:
a) seeds that contain radiation source are placed near the tumor –> temporary or permanent
b) systemic radiation therapy: radioactive drugs circulate through the body
How does radiation damage cancer cells?
damaging DNA of cells leading to cellular death
–> can either be indirect (production of ROS) or direct
–> single strand or double strand breaks (more difficult to repair)
What leads to radiation therapy resistance?
hypoxia as less ROS are formed
Are dividing or differentiated cells more sensitive for radiation damage?
dividing cells
How is the total dose of radiation given?
fractioned
What is the 4R principle of radiaton therapy?
- Repair
- Reassortment/ redistribution
- repopulation
- reoxygenation
What are the goals of chemotherapy?
- currative chemotherapy: elimination of all cancer cells
- palliative chemotherapy: relieve, slow down of progression
- neoadjuvant chemotherapy: shrink tumor size to allow less invasive surgery
- adjuvant chemotherapy: aims at cancer cells that are left in body after surgery to prevent recurrences
How do alkylating agents work as chemotherapy?
bind covalently via alkyl groups to DNA –> DNA damage -> DNA repair –> cell arrest –> apoptosis
Name different types of alkylating agents and example drugs
- Nitrogen mustard: Melphalan
- Nitrosoureas: Carmustine, Lomustine
- platinum-based antineoplastics: cisplatin, oxaliplatin
How do platinum-based antineoplastics work?
do not alkylate but cause covalent DNA adducts
Which chemotherapy drug works at which stage in the cell cycle?
- G1 to G2: Topoisomerase inhibitors, cytotoxic antibiotics
- S: antimetabolites
- M: antimicrotubule agents (beginning vinca alkaloids, later icrotubule inhibitors)
- whole cycle: alkylating agents
How do metabolites work as chemotherapy drugs?
interferes with normal cellular metabolism of nucleic acid –> structural similarity between natural metabolite and antimetabolite
Name example anti metabolites
- 5-Fluorouracil
- Methotrextate
- Folic Acid
How do topoisomerase inhibitors work?
- prevent DNA re-ligation and therefore causes DNA damage resulting in apoptosis –> cancer cells rely more on topo enzymes than healthy cells due to rapid replication
- inhibitors form a ternary complex with DNA and topo enzyme by forming hydrogen bonds
Name examples of topoisomerase inhibtors
- Camptohecin
- Etoposide
How do anti- microtubule agents work?
disrupt the M-phase of the cell –> cell cycle arrest –> apoptosis
Give examples of different anti- microtubule agents
- vinca alkaloids
- taxanes
Describe the tumor lysis syndrome in chemotherapy (kr!)
- occurs after massive destruction of tumor cells at the same time
- release of cellular content to the blood stream
- high blood electrolyte levels lead the renal insufficiencym cardiac arrhythmias, seizures and death due to multi organ failure
–> hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatamia and hypocalcemia
How can Tumor lysis syndrome be treated?
Rasburicase Enzyme (Elitek)
What is Leukemia?
cancer of the blood cells –> bone marrow makes large numbers of abnormal cells