Lecture 1: Major Review Points

1.) Multiple radiation doses are effective in Cancer treatment

-If the difference in survival rates of normal and cancer cells after intense radiation exposure is small, there will be little difference in the percentage of cancer cells killed compared to the normal cells following a single dose of radiation. However, if the radiation is administered as a series of smaller doses we are able to magnify this difference over time, because we give time for normal cells to repair themselves and cancer cells who’s repair mechanisms are broken die off at  a steady pace we are able to amplify the small difference seen as compared to large dose radiations. 

Antimetabolites are molecules that resemble substances involved in normalcellular metabolism. This resemblance causes enzymes to bind to antimetabolites in place of the normal molecules thereby disrupting essential pathways and killing the cell.  Mechanisms of action are folic acid. purine and pyrimidine analogs. 

Alkylating agents are high reactive organic molecules that trigger DNA damage by linking themselves directly to DNA. In general alkylating agents disrupt normal DNA function by crosslinking the two strands of the DNA double helix. As a result, the two strands are unable to separate and DNA replication cannot take place, thereby preventing cell divison.

 Mechanism of Action is they are all DNA crosslinking agents. 

Can be DNA crosslinking agents, uses antibody and break DNA strands or topoisomerase inhibitor or antimicrotubule agent. Top II ia an enzyme that normally breaks and rejoins DNA strands during DNA replication to prevent excessive twisting of the double helix

Horomone Therapy

Differentiating Agents

Using antibodies are normal immune response to kill cancer. Antibodies are soluble proteins manufactured by immune cells known as B lymphocytes. Monoclonal Antibodies can be used to trigger Cancer Cell destruction either by themselves or Linked to Radioactive substances.  Problems with Antibodies one they are developed in animals and need to be made more human like also the cancer cell antigens they recognize maybe be present on certain normal cells as well but this can be okay if the normal cells are capable of regeneration as precursor B lymphocyte cells.  Cytotoxic t lymphocytes also bind to surface of cells exhibiting foreign antigens.