Anti-Neoplastic Drugs, Corticosteroids, and Vaccines Review

Vocabulary flashcards on anti-neoplastic drugs, cell cycle mechanisms, toxicities, corticosteroids, and types of immunity from the lecture notes.

Cancer

A group of diseases in which abnormal cells grow out of control and can spread to other areas of the body.

Chemotherapy

The use of chemical agents to kill cancer cells.

Neoplastic

Referring to new cellular growth that is cancerous.

Cell Cycle–Nonspecific (CCNS) Drugs

Anticancer drugs that act during any phase of the cell cycle, including the $G_0$ resting phase; examples include most alkylating drugs, antitumor antibiotics, and hormones.

Cell Cycle Specific (CCS) Drugs

Anticancer drugs that exert their primary influence during a specific phase of the cell cycle and are most effective against rapidly growing cancer cells; examples include antimetabolites, some alkylating agents, and vinca alkaloids.

Chemo Man

A mnemonic diagram that maps anticancer drugs to their primary organ-specific adverse effects based on anatomical locations (e.g., C for nephrotoxicity/ototoxicity, B for pulmonary fibrosis, D for cardiotoxicity, P for hemorrhagic cystitis, T/V for peripheral neuropathy).

Bleomycin Sulfate

A glycopeptide antibiotic/antitumor drug that affects cells during the $G_2$ phase of the cell cycle, indicated for leukemia, administered via IV, IM, or SUBQ, with pulmonary fibrosis as its major adverse effect.

Pulmonary Fibrosis

A major adverse effect of bleomycin sulfate and busulfan in which lung tissue and airways become thick and rigid, losing elasticity and surface area for gas exchange.

Doxorubicin

An anthracycline anticancer drug that interferes with DNA replication and RNA transcription in all cell cycle phases, indicated for ALL, Hodgkin lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, whose major adverse effect is cardiotoxicity.

Dexrazoxane

A chemoprotectant agent administered before anthracyclines such as doxorubicin to prevent cardiotoxicity.

Vinca Alkaloids

Anticancer plant alkaloids derived from the periwinkle plant (including vinblastine, vincristine, and vinorelbine) that block cell division at the M phase of the cell cycle, inducing apoptosis.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Taxanes

Anticancer plant alkaloids derived from the yew tree (including paclitaxel and docetaxel) that act in the M phase of the cell cycle, with peripheral neuropathy as a major side effect.

Alkylating Drugs

A class of cell cycle–nonspecific (CCNS) drugs that damage cellular DNA through cross-linkage of DNA strands, abnormal base pairing, or DNA strand breaks to kill cells in all phases.

Cyclophosphamide

A nitrogen mustard alkylating agent indicated for lymphomas, lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma, breast and ovarian carcinoma, lung cancer, retinoblastoma, and lupus nephritis, whose primary major adverse effect is hemorrhagic cystitis.

Hemorrhagic Cystitis

A major adverse effect of cyclophosphamide caused by damage to the bladder lining, characterized by hematuria, dysuria, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, and lower abdominal pain.

Sodium 2-Mercaptoethanesulfonate (Mesna)

A protective agent administered to anticipate and prevent hemorrhagic cystitis caused by cyclophosphamide treatment.

Nitrosoureas

A class of alkylating drugs (including carmustine, lomustine, and streptozocin) that cross the blood-brain barrier, making them effective against brain cancer, with neurotoxicity as a major side effect.

Busulfan

An alkylsulfonate alkylating drug whose major adverse effect is pulmonary fibrosis.

Antimetabolites

Anticancer drugs classified mostly as cell cycle specific (CCS) that exert their primary toxic effects during the S phase (DNA synthesis and metabolism) of the cell cycle.

Methotrexate

A folate antimetabolite and folic acid analogue indicated for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, cancers of the GI tract, head and neck, breast, and ovaries, and ectopic pregnancies, whose major adverse effect is myelosuppression.

Leucovorin

A rescue agent administered 12 to 24 hours after methotrexate to reduce AICAR concentrations and diminish methotrexate toxicity.

Myelosuppression

Suppression of bone marrow activity and immune defense, presenting as a major side effect of methotrexate with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, body malaise, fatigue, weakness, and coughing with a runny nose.

Corticosteroids

A class of $C_{21}$ steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex that function to lower inflammation and suppress immune responses in the body.

Glucocorticoids

Corticosteroids involved in glucose metabolism and inflammation control, including natural forms (cortisone, hydrocortisone) and synthetic forms (prednisone, prednisolone, triamcinolone, betamethasone, dexamethasone).

Mineralocorticoids

Corticosteroids involved in regulating electrolyte and water balance, including natural forms (aldosterone, deoxycorticosterone) and synthetic forms (fludrocortisone).

Vaccine

A biological preparation containing an agent resembling a disease-causing microorganism (weakened, killed, or subunit form) that improves active immunity to a specific disease.

Natural Active Immunity

Immunity acquired through experiencing an actual disease or infection, prompting the body to produce its own antibodies.

Artificial Active Immunity

Immunity acquired through receiving a vaccine, prompting the recipient's body to generate its own antibodies.

Natural Passive Immunity

Immunity acquired by receiving maternal antibodies transferred naturally across the placenta or through breast milk.

Artificial Passive Immunity

Immunity acquired by receiving pre-formed antibodies or immune globulins transferred from another person or source.