Pharm 11 Quiz

• Phases of Cell Growth

  1. G1 - enzyme production

  2. S - DNA synthesis

  3. G2 - protein production

  4. M - cell division (mitosis)

  5. G0 - rest
• Some tissues/cells (BM, GI, repro, hair follicles) don't have rest phase
• Terminology


  • CCNS - cell cycle non-specific
  • CCS - cell cycle specific (desire rapid growth)
  • Growth fraction - % of cells that are actively dividing
  • Doubling time - time required for # cancer cells to double
• Growth fraction

  • Higher growth fraction = better success
  • Small, early, fast growing = more favorable to tx
• Biologic Response Modifiers (BRM's)

  • α interferons - also antiviral effects
  • interleukins - stimulate T cells
  • CSF's - stimulate bone marrow stem cells
  • Acemannan - aloe vera leaves
  • Monoclonal antibodies (Mab's)
• 1. asparaginase


  • Asparagine needed by all cells
  • Normal cells can manufacture their own
  • Malignant cells cannot, but need alot
  • L-asparaginase metabolizes circulating asparagine so unavailable to tumor cells
• Enzyme Inhibitors


  • Tocerinib (Palladia) - inhibits tyrosine kinase (on/off switch)
  • Anti-angiogenesis
  • Oral tablet, K9 mast cell tumors
• Corticosteroids


  • Toxic to some kinds of certain tumor cells
  • Anti-inflammatory, appetite stimulation
  • Immune suppression
• Adverse Reactions


  • Site reactions - pain, swelling, tissue damage
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Effects on rapidly dividing cells - GI, hair follicles, reproductive organs
  • Bone marrow suppression - decreased RBC's, WBC's, platelets
• Handling of Cytotoxic Agents


  • Designate specific area for treatment
  • Cover work surface with plastic sheet
  • Wear latex gloves, gowns, etc - reduce skin exposure
  • Reconstitute carefully - mark and date
  • Dispose of materials properly
  • Wash hands thoroughly after removing gloves
• Why vaccinate?

  • Vaccinations are intended to stimulate the immune system (develop immunity) against common antigens before exposure to field strains
  • Field ("wild") strains are generally more virulent and potentially lethal than artificial (vaccine) strains
• Cell-Mediated Immunity


  • T lymphocytes - derived from the thymus, directly attack the antigen, especially intracellular invaders
  • Very fast (hours/days)
  • Very specific
• How Can an Animal Become Immune?

  • Natural Immunity - normal biological experience (infection)
  • Artificial Immunity - acquired through a procedure (vaccination)
  • Active Immunity - receive actual antigen --> produce antibodies
  • Passive Immunity - receive antibodies against an antigen(s) from another source/animal
• 4 Combinations of Immunity

  • Natural active - infection by field (wild) organism
  • Artificial active - "infection" via vaccine "organism"
  • Artificial passive - ingestion of antibodies (e.g. antitoxin)
  • Natural passive - ingestion of antibodies (e.g. colostrum)
• Why are vaccines boostered?

  Anamnestic response (memory) - enhanced reaction of the body's immune system to an antigen previously encountered
• Vaccine Terminology


  • Adjuvant - chemical added to vaccines to enhance the immune response
  • Preservatives - for multi-dose vials
• Inactivated (Killed) Vaccines


  • Chemical or heat treated - pathogen unable to reproduce in animal
  • Only induce humoral immunity
  • Very safe
  • Must be boostered to have/continue effect
• Attenuated (Modified Live) Vaccines

  • Generally virus vaccines
  • Specifically grown to be less virulent - can still reproduce!
  • Stimulate humoral and cellular immunity - longer, stronger response than killed
  • Precaution: May have potential (slight) to mutate into virulent form - could cause actual disease we're trying to prevent
• Vaccine Types


  • Monovalent - effective against one antigen
  • Polyvalent - effective against more than one antigen
• Care and Handling


  • Read label - make sure you have what you want = what the animal needs
  • Storage - refrigerate
  • Multi-dose vials - contamination risk increased
  • Reconstituting
• Antineoplastic drugs


  Drugs used to treat cancer
• Inhibition/disruption of DNA synthesis


  1. Alkylating agents

  2. Antimetabolites

  3. Antibiotic derived
• Alkylating agents


  Drugs that disrupt DNA synthesis
• Alkylating agents


  • Cyclophosamide
  • Melphalan
  • Carboplatin
  • Cisplatin
• Antimetabolites


  Drugs that disrupt DNA synthesis
• Antimetabolites


  • Methotrexate
  • Cytarabine
  • Fluorourocil
• Antibiotic derived


  Drugs that disrupt DNA synthesis
• Antibiotic derived


  • Doxorubicin
  • Daunorubicin
• Inhibition of mitosis


  Vincristine
• Inhibition of protein synthesis


  1. L-asparaginase

  2. Tocerinib (Palladia)

  3. Mitotane (adrenal gland destruction)
• Monoclonal antibodies


  Artificially produced antibodies against specific tumor cell antigens
• Biologic response modifiers


  Drugs that stimulate the body's immune response against cancer
• Biologic response modifiers


  • Interferons
  • Interleukins
  • Colony stimulating factors (CSFs)
  • Acemannan
• Hormones


  • Prednisolone
  • Tamoxifen
  • Flutamide