APHON Principles of Chemo and Biotherapy Exam
Latest Update
Biotherapy - ANSWER Targeted anticancer agents also known as biological response
modifiers (BRM)
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are what class - ANSWER Biotherapy
Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) are what class - ANSWER Biotherapy
Define pharmacokinetics - ANSWER Study of drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion
Define pharmacodynamics - ANSWER The concentration of the drug in the body and how it
produces a response
Define adjuvant chemotherapy - ANSWER The use of chemo after another type of therapy,
such as surgery, to treat residual disease or undetectable metastasis.
Define neoadjuvant chemotherapy - ANSWER When chemo is used preoperatively to
decrease tumor burden in order to make it easier to remove the tumor surgically.
Define sanctuary sites - ANSWER Sites within the body where tumor cells sequester and are
not easily reached by chemo such as the CNS
What normal cells are most often effected by chemotherapy - ANSWER Hematopoietic,
mucosal (mouth & GI), hair follicles
Why use chemotherapy - ANSWER To prevent cancer cells from dividing, metastasizing, and
ultimately causing the death of the patient
Cure - ANSWER To permanently eradicate the cancer
Control - ANSWER To extend the length & QOL when cure is not feasible or realistic
Palliation - ANSWER Minimize pain and suffering during end of life
Resting phase of cell cycle - ANSWER Gap 0 - cells not dividing
Postmitotic phase - ANSWER Gap 1 - enzymes needed for DNA synthesis are produced,
protein and RNA synthesis takes place (18 Hours)
Synthesis (S) Phase - ANSWER Cellular DNA duplicated (20 hours)
, Premitotic phase - ANSWER Gap 2 - both protein and RNA synthesis occur, precursors of
mitotic spindle are produced. Shortest phase
Mitosis (M) Phase - ANSWER Cell division occurs in 4-step phase (prophase, metaphase,
anaphase, telophase) 1 Hour
5 stages of reproduction of cells - ANSWER Resting, Postmitotic, synthesis, premitotic,
mitosis
Cell Cycle time - ANSWER The amount of time it takes a cell to move from one mitotic
episode to another.
Cell-cycle-specific agents - ANSWER Those drugs that work only when cells are in a specific
phase of the cell cycle.
Doubling time - ANSWER The time required for a tumor mass to reach a certain size or
double in size.
Growth fraction - ANSWER Percentage of cells actively dividing at any given point in time.
Tumor burden - ANSWER Size of the tumor as determined by the number of cells present.
A higher growth fraction - ANSWER Results in a higher cell kill with exposure to cell cycle
specific agents.
The higher the tumor cell burden - ANSWER The greater the probability of the development
of drug resistance
Gompertzian function - ANSWER As the tumor burden increases, the rate of growth slows or
levels off.
6 essential alterations in normal cell physiology that dictate malignant growth - ANSWER 1.
Self-sufficiency in growth signals 2. Insensitivity to growth-inhibitory signals 3. Avoidance of
apoptosis 4. Limitless replication potential 5. Sustained antiangiogenesis 6. Tissue invasion
and metastasis
6 cell characteristics of malignant cells in easier terms - ANSWER Mutated DNA alters
instructions for function 2. Parasitic to host and has no beneficial function 3. Uncontrolled
reproduction 4. Invades surrounding tissues and mets 5. Immortal 6. Call birth is greater then
cell death
6 mechanisms of drug resistance by the cell - ANSWER 1. Decreased drug uptake by the cell
2. Increased removal of the drug out of the cell r/t changes in the cell membrane 3.
Latest Update
Biotherapy - ANSWER Targeted anticancer agents also known as biological response
modifiers (BRM)
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are what class - ANSWER Biotherapy
Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) are what class - ANSWER Biotherapy
Define pharmacokinetics - ANSWER Study of drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion
Define pharmacodynamics - ANSWER The concentration of the drug in the body and how it
produces a response
Define adjuvant chemotherapy - ANSWER The use of chemo after another type of therapy,
such as surgery, to treat residual disease or undetectable metastasis.
Define neoadjuvant chemotherapy - ANSWER When chemo is used preoperatively to
decrease tumor burden in order to make it easier to remove the tumor surgically.
Define sanctuary sites - ANSWER Sites within the body where tumor cells sequester and are
not easily reached by chemo such as the CNS
What normal cells are most often effected by chemotherapy - ANSWER Hematopoietic,
mucosal (mouth & GI), hair follicles
Why use chemotherapy - ANSWER To prevent cancer cells from dividing, metastasizing, and
ultimately causing the death of the patient
Cure - ANSWER To permanently eradicate the cancer
Control - ANSWER To extend the length & QOL when cure is not feasible or realistic
Palliation - ANSWER Minimize pain and suffering during end of life
Resting phase of cell cycle - ANSWER Gap 0 - cells not dividing
Postmitotic phase - ANSWER Gap 1 - enzymes needed for DNA synthesis are produced,
protein and RNA synthesis takes place (18 Hours)
Synthesis (S) Phase - ANSWER Cellular DNA duplicated (20 hours)
, Premitotic phase - ANSWER Gap 2 - both protein and RNA synthesis occur, precursors of
mitotic spindle are produced. Shortest phase
Mitosis (M) Phase - ANSWER Cell division occurs in 4-step phase (prophase, metaphase,
anaphase, telophase) 1 Hour
5 stages of reproduction of cells - ANSWER Resting, Postmitotic, synthesis, premitotic,
mitosis
Cell Cycle time - ANSWER The amount of time it takes a cell to move from one mitotic
episode to another.
Cell-cycle-specific agents - ANSWER Those drugs that work only when cells are in a specific
phase of the cell cycle.
Doubling time - ANSWER The time required for a tumor mass to reach a certain size or
double in size.
Growth fraction - ANSWER Percentage of cells actively dividing at any given point in time.
Tumor burden - ANSWER Size of the tumor as determined by the number of cells present.
A higher growth fraction - ANSWER Results in a higher cell kill with exposure to cell cycle
specific agents.
The higher the tumor cell burden - ANSWER The greater the probability of the development
of drug resistance
Gompertzian function - ANSWER As the tumor burden increases, the rate of growth slows or
levels off.
6 essential alterations in normal cell physiology that dictate malignant growth - ANSWER 1.
Self-sufficiency in growth signals 2. Insensitivity to growth-inhibitory signals 3. Avoidance of
apoptosis 4. Limitless replication potential 5. Sustained antiangiogenesis 6. Tissue invasion
and metastasis
6 cell characteristics of malignant cells in easier terms - ANSWER Mutated DNA alters
instructions for function 2. Parasitic to host and has no beneficial function 3. Uncontrolled
reproduction 4. Invades surrounding tissues and mets 5. Immortal 6. Call birth is greater then
cell death
6 mechanisms of drug resistance by the cell - ANSWER 1. Decreased drug uptake by the cell
2. Increased removal of the drug out of the cell r/t changes in the cell membrane 3.
