Drug Delivery and Biopharmaceuticals 1 Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is cancer?
Uncontrolled cell division due to failure in regulatory mechanisms.
How is cancer classified?
No two cancers are the same; classified by origin (e.g., sarcoma, carcinoma, lymphoma, leukaemia, etc.).
What are the causes of cancer?
Nature (Genetics): Mutations, inherited susceptibility; Nurture (Environment): Epigenetics, lifestyle, exposure.
What is epigenetics?
Influences gene expression without altering DNA sequence.
How does cancer variation occur?
Each cancer type has similar phenotype; response to treatment, progression, and prognosis vary by epigenetic differences.
What are the components of epigenetic treatment strategies?
Writers: Add modifications (e.g., methylation); Erasers: Remove modifications; Readers: Detect modifications; Movers/Shapers/Insulators: Rearranging or mutating histones.
How many FDA-approved epigenetic agents are there?
9 FDA-approved epigenetic agents (e.g., DNMT, HDAC, IDH, EZH2 inhibitors).
What is the human genome’s characteristic related to cancer?
Hypermutable with inherent instability.
What factors contribute to cancer variability?
Ethnic, age-based, and regional differences in cancer types.
What challenges do rare cancers present?
Lack structured treatment protocols; rely on personalized medicine.
What is the major cause of death in cancer patients?
Metastasis; behavior influenced by tissue of origin.
How is cancer staging correlated?
Organ-specific, correlates with prognosis.
What influences where cancers spread?
Embryological development and preferential metastasis sites vary depending on cancer type.
What unique challenges do children face regarding cancer?
Have unique cancer types; ethical issues in trial design.
What patterns suggest links to environmental factors in cancer?
Ethnic/Geographic Patterns.
What is the most effective strategy for improved cancer outcomes?
Early detection involving genetic screening, risk assessment, recognizing early warning signs.
What are some genetic issues related to cancer?
Bad genetics, somatic defects, epigenetic changes.
What role do viruses play in cancer?
Humans and viruses, transposable elements, proto-oncogenes.
What is a characteristic of the human genome?
Hyper-mutable genome leading to good and bad outcomes.
What mechanisms are involved in growth regulation?
Involves kinases, lipid phosphorylation, growth factor receptors.
What are key targets in cancer mechanisms?
RAS (a commonly mutated oncogene) and p53 (tumour suppressor): Genome stability, apoptosis, metabolism.
What are the key takeaways regarding cancer?
Cancer is highly individualistic—genetically and epigenetically; biopharmaceuticals offer targeted treatments and are evolving rapidly; understanding the biological context is key to effective therapy.
