mod 6

• cancer- group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth w/ the potential to incade or spread other parts of the body
• types of cancers:

  1. carcinoma
  2. sarcoma
  3. leukemia
  4. lymphoma and myeloma
  5. melanoma
• carcinoma- cancer starts in skin or tissue that line other organs "most commonly diagnosed"
• sarcoma- cancer of connective tissue such as bones, muscles, cartilage, blood vessels
• leukemia- cancer of bone marrow, creates blood cells
• lymphoma and myeloma- cancers of immune system
• melanoma- cancers arise in the cells that make the pigment in the skin
• antineoplastic agents- comprise one aspect of chemotheraphy, these drugs act on and kill altered human cells
• neoplasm cancer:

  1. anaplasia
  2. autonomy
  3. metastasis
  4. angiogenesis
• anaplasia- cancerous cells lose cellular differentiation and organization and are unable to fxn normally
• autonomy- cancerous cells grow w/o the usual homeostatic restrictions that regulate cell growth and control. allows cells to form a tumor
• metastasis- cancer cells travel from the place of origin to develop new tumors in other areas of the body
• angiogenesis- abnormal cells release enzymes to generate blood vessels and supply oxygen to the cells, generating growth
• interferons and tissue necrosis factor (tnf)- play a role in the body's attempt to eliminate the abnormal cells
• possible cause of cancer:

  1. genetic predisposition
  2. viral infection
  3. constant irritation and cell turnover
  4. stress
  5. lifestyle factors
  6. environmental factors
• classification of tumors:

  1. solid tumors (carcinomas, sarcomas)
  2. hematologic malignancies- (leukemia, lymphomas)
• chemotherapy - method of choice when there is suspected or confirmed spread of malignant cells
• cell cycle-specific agents -

  act on the cell during a particular phase of reproduction. most effective in tumors where a large number of cells are dividing.

  1. antimetabolites
  2. mitotic inhibitors
• antimetabolites:

  S-phase -replaces building blocks of DNA so cell can't divide
• examples of antimetabolites:

  1. trexall
  2. purinethol
  3. adrucil
  4. vidaza
  5. cytosar-U
  6. hydrea
• plant alkaloids:

  - M phase- prevent cell division by destroying the mitotic spindle
• examples of mitotic inhibitors:

  1. oncovin
  2. eldisine
  3. velban
  4. vumon
• cell cycle- nonspecific drugs:

  - act on cells during any phase of reproduction; agents are dose dependent- the more drug give, the more cells destroyed
• cell cycle-nonspecific drugs

  1. alkylating agents
  2. antitumor antibiotics
  3. nitrosoureas
• alkylating agents- prevent cell division by damaging DNA ladder structure

  examples:

  1. cytoxan
  2. myleran
  3. alkeran
  4. thioplex
  5. platinol
• antitumor antibiotics:

  • attack DNA by slipping between DNA strands and preventing replication.
  • examples:

  1. adriamycin
  2. cosmegen
• nitrosoureas:

  • alkylating agents that are stronger and have a greater ability to attack cells; can cross the blood-brain barrier
  • examples: 1. zanosar
  • 2. semustine
  • 3. gliadel
  • 4. azacitidine
• matulane (procarbazine)- used in chemotherapy group, but their exact mechanism of action is unknown
• homonal agents (estrogen, androgen, progestins):

  • work in all cycles and are used in therapy
  • examples: decadron, DES, helotestin, nolvadex, deltasone
• antihormones- block tumor growth by depriving the tumor of the necessary hormones
• combination chemotheraphy:

  1. adriamycin, blenocane, velban, dacarbazine (ABVD) for Hodgkin's lymphoma
  2. ABVD + deltasone (antiinflammatory effect)
• elspar - enzyme to treat lymphocytic leukemia
• eulexin - antiandrogen used to treat prostate cancer
• taxol- used to treat ovarian, breast, cell lung cancers