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Learn about types of antineoplastic drugs, their mechanisms, toxicities, and uses in cancer treatment. Explore chemotherapy, hormones, biologic response modifiers, and chemoprotective agents.
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Antineoplastics and Antianemics Pharmacology I NURS 1950
Objective 1: Describe the general factors utilized to select the therapy used to treat cancer
Objective 2: Describe the general uses of chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer
Objective 3: Identify the basic types of antineoplastic drugs
Alkylating agents • Antimetabolites • Natural products • Antineoplastic antibiotics • Hormones • Biologic response modifiers & Misc.
Alkylating Agents • Bond with DNA so it can’t separate = no replication • Cell-cycle nonspecific • Resistance can be a problem • Creates cross resistance with other alkylating agents
Alkylating agents: non cell cycle specific drugs • Activity occurs when the cell tries to replicate and the DNA can not separate
Drugs included • Busulfan (Myleran) • Carboplatin (Paraplatin) • Carmustine (BCNU) • Chloramubil (Leukeran) • Cisplatin (Platinol) • Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Fudarabine (Fludara) • Lomustine (CCNU, CeeNU) • Mechlorethamine (Nitrogen mustard, Mustargen) • Melphalan (Alkeran) • Streptozocin (Zanosar) • Thiotepa
In general, toxicities include • N/V, anorexia • Bone marrow depression • Anemia • Nephrotoxicity • Hepatic and renal toxicity • Alopecia • Cystitis
Each drug may have specific toxicities • Example: Zanosar causes hypoglycemia
Antimetabolites • Drugs included • Capecitabine (Xeloda) • Cytarabine hydrochloride (Cytosar) • Fludarabine (Fludara) • Flurouracil (5-FU, FU) • Gemcitabine (Gemzar)
Mercaptopurine (6-MP, Purinethol) • Methotrexate (MTX) • Thioguanine (Lanvis)
Antimetabolites are subclassed as folic acid, purine, and pyrimidine antagonists • Inhibit key enzymes in biosynthetic pathways of DNA and RNA synthesis • Many are cell-cycle specific (S phase)
In general, toxicities include • N/V, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue • Bone marrow depression, dermatitis • Oral and GI ulceration
Natural Products/mitotic inhibitors • Come from periwinkle plant, specific yews • Cell-cycle specific: block mitotic spindle during mitosis
Drugs include • Etoposide (VePesid) • Docetaxel (Taxotere) • Paclitaxel • Vinblastine sulfate (Velban, Velbe) • Vincristine sulfate (Oncovin) • Vinorelbine (Navelbine)
General toxicities • N/V, stomatitis • Leukopenia with VePesid: nadir in 10-14 days, recovery 3 weeks • Bone marrow suppression, alopecia, peripheral neuritis, hepatotoxicity, bronchospasm
Antineoplastic Antibiotics • Bind to DNA, inhibit DNA, RNA synthesis • Cell-cycle nonspecific
Drugs include • Bleomycin (Blenoxane) • Dactinomycin (Actinomycin D, Cosmegen) • Daunorubicin (Cerubidine) • Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) • Epirubicin (Ellence)
Idarubicin • Mitomycin C • Mitoxantrone • Plicamycin • Valrubicin
Generally, toxicities include • N/V, red tinged urine with some • Bone marrow depression • Cardiotoxicity • Pulmonary fibrosis (Bleomycin) • GI bleeding, CNS effects with some
Hormones • Corticosteroids: lymphoma and acute leukemia as suppress mitosis in lymphocytes • Help restore sense of well being, decrease edema with radiation, increase appetite and strength
Estrogens and androgens: malignancies of sexual organs • Use estrogen for prostate cancer (suppress the amount of androgen available) • Use androgens for breast cancer (suppress the amount of estrogen available)
Drugs included • Anastrozole (Arimidex) • Diethylstilbestrol (DES) • Prednisone • Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) • Testolactone (Teslac) • Testosterone
General toxicities • N/V, headache • Fluid retention, feminization or masculinization • Hot flashes • Some can cause thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, hypercalcemia, increased bone and tumor pain
Biologic response modifiers • Drugs included • Altretamine (Hexalen) • Dacarbazine (DTIC-dome) • Hydroxyurea (Hydrea) • Interferon alfa-2b (Roferon-a) • Leuprolide acetate (Lupron)
Toxicities in general • N/V, hot flashes, bone marrow depression, arrhythmias • Flulike syndrome • Anemia, leukopenia
Immunomodulators • Drugs used as adjunct therapy • Epoetin alfa (Procrit) stimulates production of red blood cells • Used to treat anemia induced by chemotherapy
Filgastim (Neupogen) stimulates the production of neutrophils (WBC)
Oprelvekin (Neumega) stimulates platelet production at stem cell level
Rituximab (Rituxan) binds to the surface of B lymphocytes • Used to treat relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Sargramostim (Leukine) stimulates the production of granulocytes and macrophages • Also helpful in aplastic anemia
Trastuzumab (Herceptin) inhibits growth of tumor cells (especially useful in metastatic breast cancer)
Chemoprotective Agents • Amifostine (Ethyol) reduces toxic effects of cisplatin • Reduces renal toxicity
Dexrazoxane (Zinecard) used with doxorubicin • Reduces cardiomyopathy
Mesna (Mesnex) reduces toxic effects of Ifex and Cytoxan • Reduces hemorrhagic cystitis
New class: antiangiogenesis • Prevent new blood vessels
Objective 4: identify the 2 factors that play a major role in the response of the cancer cell to the antineoplastic drug • Tumor size • Rate of cell replication
Objective 5: describe what “tumor resistance” means • Tumor cells are not as susceptible to antineoplastic agents as they should be • Cells escape damage from the drugs
Objective 6: specify which normal cells are frequently affected by antineoplastic therapy; and signs and symptoms that result most frequently
Normal cells responding to chemotherapy • Rapidly growing cells • GI tract • Hair follicles • RBCs, WBCs, platelets
Side effects/toxicities to expect • GI tract: N/V, diarrhea or constipation, stomatitis • Take PRN medications as needed • Will have pre-treatment drugs for N/V • Stomatitis requires good oral hygiene, mouth wash with local anesthetic • Weekly weights
Diarrhea: skin care a must • Avoid foods that stimulate bowel motility • Eat foods high in K+ (loose it with diarrhea)
Alopecia • Hair will begin to fall out in clumps • Devastating—cut hair short; get wigs, caps, turbans
Skin care: lukewarm water, mild soap • Keep skin clean and dry • If drugs cause photosensitivity, avoid sun • Skin creams available from MD to heal, protect • Especially important with radiation
Decreased RBCs = decreased 02 transport • May receive Procrit • May have blood transfusion • Need to rest often • Avoid orthostatic hypotension
Neutropenia: avoid crowds (infections) • Neupogen may be used • Meticulous care of central lines needed