Biological and Targeted Therapy in Cancer
Exam questions and answers
What is biological and targeted therapy? - ✅✅Effective alone or with surgery, radiation, and
chemotherapy. Able to kill tumor cells without damaging normal cells.
Biological therapy: Agents alter biological immune response to tumor cells
Targeted therapy: Targets and binds to cell receptors important to tumor growth
Targeted Therapies Include ..? - ✅✅Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Monoclonal antibodies, Vascular
endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors, Interleukins
Cytokines include..? - ✅✅interferons, interleukins, colony stimulating factors, and tumor necrosis
factor
Interferon inhibits DNA and protein synthesis
Cytokines can have antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunodulatory properties
Biological agents may affect host tumor response in three ways..? - ✅✅1. Direct antitumor effects
2. restore, augment, or modulate host immune mechanisms
3. other biological effects such as interference with the cancer cells ability to metastasize or
differentiate
Side effects of biological therapies: cytokines & immunodilators - ✅✅Flu-like syndrome (fatigue,
fever, chills, headache, nausea, anorexia, weight loss), Changes in cognitive function, Rare complication
of interleukin therapy - "capillary leak syndrome"
Interferons - ✅✅Interferons are cytokinines, small protein hormones produced by cells of the
immune system (leukocytes, monocytes, fibroblasts, lymphocytes) that make the immune system work
better. They support the different components of the immune system (prevent tumor growth, facilitate
cancer cell destruction, inhibit cell multiplication.
What are interleukins - ✅✅Interleukins signal and coordinate other cells of the immune system.
, Describe systemic Capillary leak syndrome - ✅✅Systemic capillary leak syndrome is a rare disorder
characterized by massive leakage of plasma from blood vessels into nearby body cavities and muscles.
Results in hypotension, edema, fluid collection in pericardium, abdomen, muscles.
Biological Therapy: Monoclonal Antibodies - ✅✅Immunoglobulins capable of binding to specific
target cells to ultimately destroy them. Administered by infusionSide effects include:Fever, chills,
headache, nausea, bone marrow suppressionCan experience infusion-related symptoms (fever, chills,
urticaria, mucosal congestion, nausea, diarrhea, and myalgias.Monoclonal antibodies; formation of
specific immunoglobulin /antibody for a specific antigen i.e. Trastuzumab (Herceptin). Antibodies are
grown and harvested in the lab.
Biological Therapy: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors - ✅✅Inhibits tyrosine kinase, the enzyme regulating cell
proliferation and survival
Side effects: Rash, dry skin, Interstitial lung disease, Infusion reaction, Fatigue, fever, diarrhea
Biological Therapy: Proteasome Inhibitor - ✅✅Inhibits proteasome activity which regulates cell
growth
Side effects, Bone marrow suppression, Peripheral neuropathy, Fatigue, diarrhea, Nausea, vomiting
Targeted Therapy Angiogenesis Inhibitor - ✅✅Binds vascular endothelial growth factor
Side effects: Hypertension, Colon bleeding and perforation, Impaired wound healing,
Thromboembolism, hemorrhage
Biological Therapy
Hematopoietic Growth Factors - ✅✅Colony-stimulating factors (CSF's)
Glycoproteins that stimulate production, maturation, regulation, and activation of cells of the
hematological system. May hasten recovery from bone marrow depression or re-establish bone marrow
function
Erythropoietin: CSF responsible for stimulating erythroid precursor cells to produce mature RBCs
Produced in the kidneys
Neupogen (filgrastim) G-CSF: Stimulates production and function of neutrophils. Hastens recovery from
bone marrow depression
Exam questions and answers
What is biological and targeted therapy? - ✅✅Effective alone or with surgery, radiation, and
chemotherapy. Able to kill tumor cells without damaging normal cells.
Biological therapy: Agents alter biological immune response to tumor cells
Targeted therapy: Targets and binds to cell receptors important to tumor growth
Targeted Therapies Include ..? - ✅✅Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Monoclonal antibodies, Vascular
endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors, Interleukins
Cytokines include..? - ✅✅interferons, interleukins, colony stimulating factors, and tumor necrosis
factor
Interferon inhibits DNA and protein synthesis
Cytokines can have antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunodulatory properties
Biological agents may affect host tumor response in three ways..? - ✅✅1. Direct antitumor effects
2. restore, augment, or modulate host immune mechanisms
3. other biological effects such as interference with the cancer cells ability to metastasize or
differentiate
Side effects of biological therapies: cytokines & immunodilators - ✅✅Flu-like syndrome (fatigue,
fever, chills, headache, nausea, anorexia, weight loss), Changes in cognitive function, Rare complication
of interleukin therapy - "capillary leak syndrome"
Interferons - ✅✅Interferons are cytokinines, small protein hormones produced by cells of the
immune system (leukocytes, monocytes, fibroblasts, lymphocytes) that make the immune system work
better. They support the different components of the immune system (prevent tumor growth, facilitate
cancer cell destruction, inhibit cell multiplication.
What are interleukins - ✅✅Interleukins signal and coordinate other cells of the immune system.
, Describe systemic Capillary leak syndrome - ✅✅Systemic capillary leak syndrome is a rare disorder
characterized by massive leakage of plasma from blood vessels into nearby body cavities and muscles.
Results in hypotension, edema, fluid collection in pericardium, abdomen, muscles.
Biological Therapy: Monoclonal Antibodies - ✅✅Immunoglobulins capable of binding to specific
target cells to ultimately destroy them. Administered by infusionSide effects include:Fever, chills,
headache, nausea, bone marrow suppressionCan experience infusion-related symptoms (fever, chills,
urticaria, mucosal congestion, nausea, diarrhea, and myalgias.Monoclonal antibodies; formation of
specific immunoglobulin /antibody for a specific antigen i.e. Trastuzumab (Herceptin). Antibodies are
grown and harvested in the lab.
Biological Therapy: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors - ✅✅Inhibits tyrosine kinase, the enzyme regulating cell
proliferation and survival
Side effects: Rash, dry skin, Interstitial lung disease, Infusion reaction, Fatigue, fever, diarrhea
Biological Therapy: Proteasome Inhibitor - ✅✅Inhibits proteasome activity which regulates cell
growth
Side effects, Bone marrow suppression, Peripheral neuropathy, Fatigue, diarrhea, Nausea, vomiting
Targeted Therapy Angiogenesis Inhibitor - ✅✅Binds vascular endothelial growth factor
Side effects: Hypertension, Colon bleeding and perforation, Impaired wound healing,
Thromboembolism, hemorrhage
Biological Therapy
Hematopoietic Growth Factors - ✅✅Colony-stimulating factors (CSF's)
Glycoproteins that stimulate production, maturation, regulation, and activation of cells of the
hematological system. May hasten recovery from bone marrow depression or re-establish bone marrow
function
Erythropoietin: CSF responsible for stimulating erythroid precursor cells to produce mature RBCs
Produced in the kidneys
Neupogen (filgrastim) G-CSF: Stimulates production and function of neutrophils. Hastens recovery from
bone marrow depression
