APHON Principles of Chemo and Biotherapy
Exam Questions And Answers. |latest updates|
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
Exam Questions And Answers. |latest updates|
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
