Chemotherapy Flashcards
How is systemic therapy delivered?
Orally / intravenously.
What is the timing of cycles in chemotherapy dependent on?
Pharmokinetics.
When is there a need for delay within the timing of chemotherapy?
When toxicities present.
In what type of tumours are chemotherapies more effective?
Better in non-solid tumours.
How is chemotherapy activity assessed?
Objective response in advanced disease seen (through CT/PET scan etc).
Improved OS, PFS or QoL.
What is OS?
Overall survival.
What is PFS?
Progression-free survival.
What is QoL?
Quality of life.
What does adjuvant treatment do?
Improves survival.
What does neoadjuvant treatment do?
MAY improve survival by increasing the surgical operability of tumour or reducing the field for radiotherapy.
What are the modes of chemotherapy agents?
Alkylating agents
Antimetabolites
Mitotic inhibitors
Antibiotics
What do alklating agents do?
Alkylating agents work by adding alkyl groups which allows covalent bonds to form with other molecules- eventually tumours cannot act as templates for new DNA formation.
What do antimetabolites do?
Antimetabolites have a similar chemical structure to essential metabolites which are required by the cell prior to cellular division- these can inhibit through incorporation into the nuclear membrane or irreversible binding with vital enzymes.
What do antimitotic antibiotics do?
Intercalate and inhibit DNA/RNA synthesis through acting on the cell membrane to allow entry of ions with antimitotic effects.
What type of chemotherapies are combined?
Those with a different mechanism of action (prevents resistance developing, usually synergistic or at least additive)
Those with different toxicity profiles (e.g. not both neurotoxic).
