What cancer and 3 other diseases is hydroxyurea used to treat?
CML (but replaced by imatinib), polycythemia vera, thrombocytopenia, sickle-cell disease
What enzyme does hydroxyurea inhibit, and what does this enzyme usually do?
Ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase. It usually converts ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides.
What cancer is often treated by a combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracyclines?
APL
What type of cells are affected by retinoids, and what is the final effect?
Malignant promyelocytes are induced to terminal differentiation and then apoptosis (causing remission of APL)
“Leukocyte Activation Syndrome” (LAS) is a side effect of what cancer drug, and is treated using what other cancer drug?
ATRA (all-trans retinoic acid); corticosteroids can prevent LAS
What heavy metal toxin is highly effective in treating relapsed APL?
Arsenic trioxide
What drug is used to treat multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes?
Thalidomide
How does the chemotherapy agent asparaginase function?
Deaminates asparagine, which inhibits protein synthesis
What cancer drug has been approved to treat hairy-cell leukemia, CML, and Kaposi’s sarcoma?
Interferon-alpha
