Women's, Men's, and Antineoplastic Drugs – Key Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering major hormones, drugs, mechanisms, indications, contraindications, and adverse effects discussed in the lecture on women's health, men's health, and antineoplastic pharmacology.

Estrogens

Female sex steroid hormones responsible for development and maintenance of the reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics.

Progesterone

Female sex steroid hormone that prepares the uterus for implantation and maintains pregnancy.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Pituitary gonadotropin that stimulates ovarian follicle growth and estradiol production.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Pituitary hormone that triggers ovulation and supports corpus luteum function.

Estradiol

Principal and most active endogenous estrogen synthesized in ovarian follicles.

Estrone

One of the three major endogenous estrogens, less potent than estradiol.

Estriol

Weak endogenous estrogen, predominant during pregnancy.

Conjugated Estrogens (Premarin)

Steroidal mixture of natural estrogens used for estrogen-replacement therapy.

Diethylstilbestrol

Nonsteroidal synthetic estrogen no longer marketed in the United States due to safety concerns.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Use of estrogen (often with progestin) to relieve menopausal symptoms; not recommended for osteoporosis prevention alone.

Estrogen Indications

Treatment of estrogen deficiency states, contraception (with progestin), menopausal vasomotor symptoms, osteoporosis prophylaxis, certain cancers.

Estrogen Contraindications

Estrogen-dependent cancer, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, pregnancy, active or past thromboembolic events, allergy.

Thrombolytic Events

Most serious adverse effect associated with estrogen therapy, includes DVT, PE, and stroke.

Chloasma

Patchy facial hyperpigmentation that may occur with estrogen use and sun exposure.

Progestins

Synthetic progesterone-like drugs such as medroxyprogesterone, norethindrone, and levonorgestrel.

Medroxyprogesterone (Provera)

Progestin used for uterine bleeding, amenorrhea, endometrial cancer, renal cancer, and contraception.

Megestrol (Megace)

Oral progestin used as appetite stimulant in AIDS/cancer and for palliative breast cancer management.

Progestin Mechanism

Induces secretory endometrium, thickens cervical mucus, inhibits pituitary gonadotropins, relaxes uterine muscle.

Monophasic Oral Contraceptive

Pill pack delivering constant estrogen-progestin dose each active day.

Triphasic Oral Contraceptive

Pill whose hormone levels vary in three distinct phases to mimic natural cycle.

Contraceptive Mechanism

Inhibits gonadotropin release, prevents ovulation, thickens cervical mucus, may inhibit implantation.

Contraceptive Contraindications

Pregnancy, high risk or history of thromboembolism, hormone-sensitive cancer, severe hypertension.

Bisphosphonates

Osteoporosis drugs that inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption (e.g., alendronate).

Alendronate (Fosamax)

First non-hormonal oral bisphosphonate for osteoporosis; taken with water, remain upright 30 min.

Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)

Drugs like raloxifene that stimulate estrogen receptors on bone while blocking them in breast/uterus.

Raloxifene (Evista)

SERM used to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis; may cause hot flashes and VTE risk.

Calcitonin (Calcimar)

Hormone drug that directly inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption; used for osteoporosis.

Teriparatide (Forteo)

Recombinant PTH analogue that stimulates new bone formation; daily SC injection.

Denosumab (Prolia)

Monoclonal antibody that blocks osteoclast activation; SC every 6 months with calcium/vit D.

Romosozumab (Evenity)

New sclerostin-inhibiting antibody for osteoporosis treatment.

Clomiphene (Clomid)

Nonsteroidal ovulation stimulant that blocks estrogen receptors, increasing FSH/LH release.

Menotropins

Combination of FSH and LH used to stimulate ovarian follicle development or spermatogenesis.

Chorionic Gonadotropin Alfa (Ovidrel)

Recombinant hCG used to trigger ovulation and support corpus luteum.

Oxytocin (Pitocin)

Uterine stimulant used to induce or augment labor and control postpartum bleeding.

Dinoprostone

Prostaglandin used for cervical ripening and labor induction.

Methylergonovine (Methergine)

Ergot alkaloid that increases uterine tone to prevent postpartum hemorrhage.

Mifepristone (Mifeprex)

Progesterone antagonist used with prostaglandin for medical abortion.

Tocolytics

Uterine relaxants like indomethacin or nifedipine used to halt premature labor.

Soy (Estrasorb)

Herbal product with estrogen-like compounds for menopausal symptom relief; applied topically.

Saw Palmetto

Herbal product used for BPH and alopecia; may interact with NSAIDs like ibuprofen.

Androgens

Male sex hormones such as testosterone responsible for male sexual development and anabolic effects.

Testosterone

Primary endogenous androgen; available in depot injection, patches, and gels.

Anabolic Steroids

Synthetic derivatives of testosterone with tissue-building properties; Schedule III abuse risk.

Danazol (Danocrine)

Synthetic androgen used for hereditary angioedema, endometriosis, and fibrocystic breast disease.

5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors

Finasteride and dutasteride; reduce prostate size by inhibiting conversion of testosterone to DHT.

Finasteride

5-Alpha reductase inhibitor for BPH and male pattern baldness; teratogenic to women handling tablets.

Alpha1-Adrenergic Blockers

Drugs like tamsulosin that relax prostatic smooth muscle for BPH symptom relief.

Androgen Receptor Blockers

Agents such as flutamide that block testosterone at prostate receptors; used for prostate cancer.

GnRH Analogues

Leuprolide, goserelin; decrease testosterone by down-regulating pituitary gonadotropins.

PDE5 Inhibitors

Sildenafil, tadalafil, etc.; increase cGMP to treat erectile dysfunction; contraindicated with nitrates.

Alprostadil (Caverject)

Prostaglandin injected into corpus cavernosum or urethra for ED.

Priapism

Prolonged, painful erection; medical emergency linked to ED drugs or androgen therapy.

Peliosis Hepatis

Blood-filled liver cysts associated with long-term anabolic steroid use.

Cancer

Malignant uncontrolled cellular growth capable of invasion and metastasis.

Primary Lesion

Original site of malignant tumor development.

Metastasis

Spread of cancer cells to distant body sites forming secondary tumors.

Paraneoplastic Syndrome

Group of symptoms (e.g., cachexia) not directly related to tumor invasion but caused by cancer.

Cell Cycle

Series of phases (G0, G1, S, G2, M) through which a cell passes to divide.

Cell Cycle-Specific (CCS) Drugs

Antineoplastics that act during a particular phase of the cell cycle (e.g., antimetabolites).

Cell Cycle-Nonspecific (CCNS) Drugs

Agents cytotoxic in any cell-cycle phase (e.g., alkylating drugs, anthracyclines).

Antimetabolites

CCS drugs (e.g., methotrexate, 5-FU) that mimic metabolites, inhibiting DNA/RNA synthesis in S phase.

Methotrexate (MTX)

Folate antagonist antimetabolite used for cancers, severe psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Leucovorin Rescue

Administration of folinic acid to reduce methotrexate-induced bone marrow suppression.

Purine Antagonists

Antimetabolites like mercaptopurine that disrupt purine nucleotide pathways.

Pyrimidine Antagonists

Agents such as fluorouracil that inhibit pyrimidine metabolism and DNA synthesis.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome

Metabolic emergency after rapid tumor cell destruction causing hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, etc.

Mitotic Inhibitors

Vinca alkaloids and taxanes that disrupt microtubules, blocking mitosis.

Vincristine

Vinca alkaloid notable for neurotoxicity; fatal if given intrathecally.

Paclitaxel

Taxane mitotic inhibitor derived from yew tree used for breast, ovarian, lung cancers.

Topoisomerase I Inhibitors

Camptothecin derivatives (irinotecan, topotecan) that prevent DNA religation during replication.

Topoisomerase II Inhibitors

Etoposide class drugs used for testicular and small-cell lung cancer.

Asparaginase

Antineoplastic enzyme that deprives leukemia cells of asparagine, causing cell death.

Alkylating Agents

CCNS drugs (e.g., cyclophosphamide, cisplatin) that add alkyl groups to DNA, preventing replication.

Cisplatin

Platinum-based alkylator for solid tumors; nephrotoxic and ototoxic.

Cyclophosphamide

Nitrogen mustard alkylator for hematologic and solid tumors; prodrug activated in liver.

Cytotoxic Antibiotics

Anthracyclines and others that intercalate DNA; examples include doxorubicin and bleomycin.

Doxorubicin

Anthracycline causing dose-related cardiomyopathy; dexrazoxane used for cardioprotection.

Bleomycin

Cytotoxic antibiotic notable for pulmonary fibrosis rather than bone marrow suppression.

Bevacizumab (Avastin)

Monoclonal antibody angiogenesis inhibitor that blocks tumor blood vessel formation.

Imatinib (Gleevec)

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting BCR-ABL in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Hydroxyurea

Ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor used for CML and squamous cell carcinoma.

Mitotane (Lysodren)

Adrenal cytotoxic drug for inoperable adrenal cortex carcinoma.

Octreotide (Sandostatin)

Somatostatin analogue managing carcinoid crisis and VIPoma diarrhea.

Extravasation

Leakage of vesicant chemotherapy into tissues causing severe local damage.

Nadir

Lowest point of blood cell counts after chemotherapy, indicating maximum bone marrow suppression.

Myelosuppression

Suppression of bone marrow activity leading to anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia.

Emetic Potential

Likelihood that a drug will cause nausea and vomiting.

Cytoprotective Agents

Drugs like amifostine or dexrazoxane given to reduce specific chemotherapy toxicities.

Hand-Foot Syndrome

Palmar-plantar dysesthesia seen with agents like capecitabine presenting as painful redness/swelling.

Pelvic Osteonecrosis of Jaw

Serious complication associated with bisphosphonates, particularly IV formulations.

Phototoxicity

Skin reaction induced by light exposure after certain drug use (e.g., estrogens).

Vena Thromboembolism (VTE)

Serious SERM adverse effect involving deep vein or pulmonary clots.

Hypercalcemia

Elevated serum calcium; may occur as paraneoplastic syndrome or adverse effect of teriparatide.

Hepatic First-Pass Effect

Extensive metabolism of oral drugs (e.g., testosterone) in the liver before systemic circulation.

Schedule III Drugs

Controlled substances with moderate abuse potential, includes anabolic steroids.

Peliosis

Formation of blood-filled cysts in the liver linked to anabolic steroid therapy.

Gynecomastia

Male breast enlargement, possible adverse effect of finasteride or androgen imbalance.

Sclerostin Inhibitor

Drug class blocking sclerostin to stimulate bone formation (e.g., romosozumab).

Cholinergic Diarrhea

Severe early-onset diarrhea characteristic of irinotecan therapy.

Dexrazoxane

Cardioprotective agent given with doxorubicin; also used for anthracycline extravasation.