Exam 2: Chapter 13: Standard Cancer Therapy Flashcards
Describe Radiation Therapy.
Uses ionizing radiation (radioactive isotopes) to activate p53 pathway of apoptosis
What are the three types of Radiation therapy
- Systemic Therapy
- Brachytherapy
- External Beam Radiotherapy
Describe Systemic Therapy. Give an example
Radioisotopes are given orally or infused
Ex. Iodine-131 to treat thyroid cancer
Describe Brachytherapy.
Radioactive pellet is implanted into the tumor in the body
Describe External Beam Radiation.
Directs a beam of ionizing radiation from outside the body at cancerous tissue in the body
What form of External Bean Radiotherapy is the cheapest and is less focused?
Gamma Rays that use Cobalt-60
What form of External Bean Radiotherapy is the most expensive and the most focused?
Proton. Use very focused beams to enable control of does distribution to the patient
When is chemotherapy used?
When a cancer become metastatic and is no longer localized
What is the concept of Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy functions as a drug that can circulate the bloodstream and reach all part of the body
What is Fractionation?
Delivery in small doses over a period of time
Why are chemotherapy drugs cytotoxic?
they non-specifically block cell division and will kill healthy dividing cells of the body
List some of the side effect of chemotherapy.
- Nausea and diarrhea
- anemia
- prone to infections
- hair loss
What does targeted therapy refer to?
a new generation of drugs that specifically target cancer cells and are less cytotoxic
What is Cyclophosphamide?
- A DNA cross-linking agent
2. Alkylating agent
What is Cisplatin?
- A DNA Cross-linking agent
2. platinating agent
