Pharmacology of Antineoplastic Agents
1
Outline of Lecture Topics:
1. Background
2. Antineoplastic Agents: classification
a. Cell Cycle Specific (CCS) agents
b. Cell Cycle Non-Specific (CCNS) agents
c. Miscellaneous (e.g., antibodies) agents
4. Mechanisms of action
5. Side Effects
6. Drug Resistance
Dr.Rajarshi Patel, Ph.D.
Dept Chemistry
2
PART I
1. Background
2. Antineoplastic Agents
a. Cell Cycle Specific (CCS) agents
b. Cell Cycle Non-Specific (CCNS) agents
c. Miscellaneous (e.g., antibodies) agents
Cancer
3
Definition:
Cancer* is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without
control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other
parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems, this process is called
metastasis.
Categorized based on the functions/locations of the cells from which they
originate:
1. Carcinoma - skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. E.g.,
Epithelial cells. 80-90% reported cancer cases are carcinomas.
2. Sarcoma - bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or
supportive tissue.
3. Leukemia - White blood cells and their precursor cells such as the bone
marrow cells, causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced
and enter the blood.
4. Lymphoma - cells of the immune system that affects lymphatic system.
5. Myeloma - B-cells that produce antibodies- spreads through lymphatic
system.
6. Central nervous system cancers - cancers that begin in the tissues of the
brain and spinal cord.
Cancer Therapeutic Modalities (classical)
4
1. Surgery
2. Radiation
3. Chemotherapy
1/3 of patients without metastasis
Respond to surgery and radiation.
If diagnosed at early stage,
close to 50% cancer
could be cured.
50% patients will undergo chemotherapy,
to remove micrometastasis. However,
chemotherapy is able to cure only about 10-15%
of all cancer patients.
5
New types of cancer treatment
Hormonal Treatments: These drugs are designed to prevent cancer cell growth by
preventing the cells from receiving signals necessary for their continued growth
and division. E.g., Breast cancer – tamoxifen after surgery and radiation
Specific Inhibitors: Drugs targeting specific proteins and processes that are
limited primarily to cancer cells or that are much more prevalent in cancer cells.
Antibodies: The antibodies used in the treatment of cancer have been
manufactured for use as drugs. E.g., Herceptin, avastin
Biological Response Modifiers: The use of naturally occuring, normal proteins to
stimulate the body's own defenses against cancer. E.g., Abciximab, rituxmab
Vaccines: Stimulate the body's defenses against cancer. Vaccines usually contain
proteins found on or produced by cancer cells. By administering these proteins,
the treatment aims to increase the response of the body against the cancer
cells.
6
Cancer Chemotherapy (Background)
A. Most of the recent progress using antineoplastic therapy is based on:
1. Development of new combination therapy of using existing drugs.
2. Better understanding of the mechanisms of antitumor activity.
3. Development of chemotherpeutic approaches to destroying
micrometastases
4. Understanding the molecular mechanisms concerning the initiation of
tumor growth and metastasis.
5. Recognition of the heterogeneity of tumors
B. Recently developed principles which have helped guide the treatment of
neoplastic disease
1. A single clonogenic cell can produce enough progeny to kill the host.
2. Unless few malignant cells are present, host immune mechanisms do not
play a significant role in therapy of neoplastic disease.
3. A given therapy results in destruction of a constant percentage as
opposed to a constant number of cells, therefore, cell kill follows first order
kinetics.
Cancer Chemotherapy
7
C. Malignancies which respond favorably to chemotherapy:
1. choriocarcinoma,
2. Acute leukemia,
3. Hodgkin's disease,
4. Burkitt's lymphoma,
5. Wilms' tumor,
6. Testicular carcinoma,
7. Ewing's sarcoma,
8. Retinoblastoma in children,
9. Diffuse histiocytic lymphoma and
10.Rhabdomyosarcoma.
D. Antineoplastic drugs are most effective against rapidly dividing
tumor cells.
E. The Main Goal of Antineoplastic Agents
IS to eliminate the cancer cells without affecting normal tissues (the concept of
differential sensitivity). In reality, all cytotoxic drugs affect normal tissues as
well as malignancies - aim for a favorable therapeutic index (aka therapeutic
ratio).
Therapeutic Index =
LD50
-----
ED50
A therapeutic index is the lethal dose of a drug for 50% of the population (LD50)
divided by the minimum effective dose for 50% of the population (ED50).
8
Infrequent scheduling of
treatment courses.
Prolongs survival but does not cure.
More intensive and
frequent treatment.
Kill rate > growth rate.
Untreated patients
F. The effects of tumor burden, scheduling, dosing, and initiation/duration of
treatment on patient survival.
Early surgical removal of the
primary tumor decreases the tumor
burden. Chemotherapy will remove
persistant secondary tumors.
9
10
General rules of chemotherapy
•Combination of several drugs with different mechanisms of action,
different resistance mechanisms, different dose-limiting toxicities.
•Adjuvant therapy: Additional cancer treatment given after the primary
treatment to lower the risk that the cancer will come back. Adjuvant
therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy,
targeted therapy, or biological therapy.
•Neoadjuvant therapy: Treatment given as a first step to shrink a tumor
before the main treatment, which is usually surgery, is given. Examples of
neoadjuvant therapy include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and
hormone therapy. It is a type of induction therapy.
11
Alkylating agents
Topoisomerase
inhibitors Antimetabolites
Molecularly
targeted
busulfan dactinomycin cytarabine erlotinib
carboplatin daunomycin clofarabine imatinib
carmustine doxorubicin fludarabine sorafenib
cisplatin etoposide gemcitabine sunitinib
cyclophosphamide etoposide phosphate mercaptopurine tretinoin
dacarbazine idarubicin methotrexate Herceptin
ifosfamide irinotecan nelarabine Miscellaneous
lomustine liposomal daunomycin thioguanine arsenic trioxide
mechlorethamine liposomal doxorubicin Tubulin binders asparaginase
melphalan mitoxantrone docetaxel bleomycin
oxaliplatin teniposide ixabepilone dexamethasone
procarbazine topotecan vinblastine hydroxyurea
temozolomide vincristine mitotane
thiotepa vinorelbine PEG-asparaginase
paclitaxel prednisone
Antineoplastic Agents
12
Chemotherapy: classification based on the
mechanism of action
Antimetabolites: Drugs that interfere with the formation of key
biomolecules including nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA.
Genotoxic Drugs: Drugs that alkylate or intercalate the DNA causing the
loss of its function.
Plant-derived inhibitors of mitosis: These agents prevent proper cell
division by interfering with the cytoskeletal components that enable the
cell to divide.
Other Chemotherapy Agents: These agents inhibit cell division by
mechanisms that are not covered in the categories listed above.
13
14
G0 = resting phase
G1 = pre-replicative phase
G2 = post-replicative phase
S = DNA synthesis
M = mitosis or cell division
M
S
G G
2 1 Hydrocortisone
Vincristine,Vinblastine
G0
Cyclophosphamide
Bleomycin
Actinomycin D
Actinomycin D
5-Fluorouracil
Cytosine arabinoside
Methotrexate
6-Mercaptopurine
6-Thioguanine
Purine antagonists
Methotrexate
Cyclophosphamide
5-Fluorouracil
Cytosine arabinoside
Daunomycin
Paclitaxel, Docetaxel
resting
Cell cycle specificity of Anti-Neoplastic Agents
15
PART II
4. Mechanisms of action
5. Side Effects
6. Drug Resistance
Pharmacology of Antineoplastic Agents
16
DNA
RNA
Protein
tubulin
Purines and
Pyrimidines
Asparaginase
Tubulin binders
Alkylating agents
Topoisomerase Inh.
Antimetabolites
Chemotherapy: Mechanisms of Action
1
Major Clinically Useful Alkylating Agents
17
Bis(mechloroethyl)amines Nitrosoureas Aziridines
Cancer Chemotherapy
Chapter 55. B.G. Katzung
18
H2N
O
N
N
HN
N
HO
O
O
P
O
NH2
O
N
N NH
N
O
O
P
OH
O
N
R
Crosslinking: Joining two or more molecules by a covalent bond. This can either
occur in the same strand (intrastrand crosslink) or in the opposite strands of the
DNA (interstrand crosslink). Crosslinks also occur between DNA and protein.
DNA replication is blocked by crosslinks, which causes replication arrest and
cell death if the crosslink is not repaired.
An Example of DNA Crosslinking
19
Alkylating Agents (Covalent DNA binding drugs)
1. The first class of chemotherapy
agents used.
2. They stop tumour growth by
cross-linking guanine
nucleobases in DNA double-helix
strands - directly attacking DNA.
3. This makes the strands unable to
uncoil and separate.
4. As this is necessary in DNA
replication, the cells can no longer
divide.
5. Cell-cycle nonspecific effect
6. Alkylating agents are also
mutagenic and carcinogenic
A
T
C G
C
G
G
A
T
G C
E.g., Mechlorethamine (Nitrogen Mustards)
20
Cancer Chemotherapy
Dr.Rajarshi N. Patel
21
Cyclophosphamide
Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent. It is a widely used as
a DNA crosslinking and cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent.
•It is given orally as well as intravenously with efficacy.
•It is inactive in parent form, and must be activated to cytotoxic
form by liver CYT450 liver microsomaal system to 4-
Hydroxycyclophamide and Aldophosphamide.
•4-Hydroxycyclophamide and Aldophosphamide are delivered to
the dividing normal and tumor cells.
•Aldophosphamide is converted into acrolein and
phosphoramide mustard.
•They crosslink DNAs resulting in inhibition of DNA synthesis
22
Cyclophosphamide Metabolism
Inactive
23
Cyclophosphamide
Clinical Applications:
1. Breast Cancer
2. Ovarian Cancer
3. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
4. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
5. Soft tissue sarcoma
6. Neuroblastoma
7. Wilms’ tumor
8. Rhabdomyosarcoma
24
Cyclophosphamide
Major Side effects
1. Nausea and vomiting
2. Decrease in PBL count
3. Depression of blood cell counts
4. Bleeding
5. Alopecia (hair loss)
6. Skin pigmentation
7. Pulmonary fibrosis
25
Ifosphamide
Mechanisms of Action
Similar to cyclophosphamide
Application
1. Germ cell cancer,
2. Cervical carcinoma,
3. Lung cancer
4. Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma
5. Sarcomas
Major Side Effects
Similar to cyclophosphamide
26
1. Mechanism of
Action
2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects
a. Nitrogen Mustards
A. Mechlorethamine DNA cross-links,
resulting in
inhibition of DNA
synthesis and
function
Hodgkin’s and non-
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Must be given
Orally
Nausea and vomiting,
decrease in
PBL count, BM depression,
bleeding, alopecia, skin
pigmentation, pulmonary
fibrosis
B. Cyclophosphamide Same as above Breast, ovarian, CLL, soft
tissue sarcoma, WT,
neuroblastoma
Orally and I.V. Same as above
C. Chlorambucil Same as above Chronic lymphocytic
leukemia
Orally effective Same as above
D. Melphalan Same as above Multiple myeloma, breast,
ovarian
Orally effective Same as above
E. Ifosfamide Same as above Germ cell cancer, cervical
carcinoma, lung, Hodgkins
and non-Hodgkins
lymphoma, sarcomas
Orally effective Same as above
A. Alkylating agents
27
1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects
b. Alkyl Sulfonates
A. Busulfan Atypical alkylating agent. Chronic granulocytic
leukemia
Orally effective Bone marrow depression,
pulmonary fibrosis, and
hyperuricemia
c. Nitrosoureas 1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects
A. Carmustine DNA damage, it can
cross blood-brain barrier
Hodgkins and non-
Hodgkins lymphoma, brain
tumors, G.I. carcinoma
Given I.V. must be
given slowly.
Bone marrow depression,
CNS depression, renal
toxicity
B. Lomustine Lomustine alkylates and
crosslinks DNA, thereby
inhibiting DNA and RNA
synthesis. Also
carbamoylates DNA and
proteins, resulting in
inhibition of DNA and RNA
synthesis and disruption of
RNA processing. Lomustine
is lipophilic and crosses the
blood-brain barrier
Hodgkins and non-
Hodgkins lymphoma,
malignant melanoma and
epidermoid carcinoma of
lung
Orally effective Nausea and vomiting,
Nephrotoxicity, nerve
dysfunction
C. Streptozotocin DNA damage pancreatic cancer Given I.V. Nausea and vomiting,
nephrotoxicity, liver toxicity
A. Alkylating agents
28
d. Ethylenimines 1. Mechanism of
Action
2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects
A. Triethylene
thiophosphoramide
(Thio-TEPA)
DNA damage,
Cytochrome
P450
Bladder cancer Given I.V. Nausea and vomiting,
fatigue
B. Hexamethylmelamine
(HMM)
DNA damage Advanced ovarian tumor Given orally after
food
Nausea and vomiting, low
blood counts, diarrhea
d. Triazenes 1. Mechanism of
Action
2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects
A. Dacarbazine (DTIC) Blocks, DNA, RNA and
protein synthesis
Malignant Melanoma,
Hodgkins and non-
Hodgkins lymphoma
Given I.V. Bone marrow depression,
hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity,
bleeding, bruising, blood
clots, sore mouths.
A. Alkylating agents
29
Summary
30
C. Antimetabolites
Folic acid is a growth factor that provides single carbons to the precursors used to form the
nucleotides used in the synthesis of DNA and RNA. To function as a cofactor folate must be
reduced by DHFR to THF.
Folic acid Tetrahydrofolate (THF)
Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR);
Methyl group and related carbon provider
Key factor for the synthesis of DNA & RNA
31
1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects
1.
Methot
rexate
inhibits formation
of FH4
(tetrahydrofolate)
from folic
acid by inhibiting
the enzyme
dihydrofolate
reductase (DHFR);
since FH4 transfers
methyl groups
essential to DNA
synthesis and
hence DNA
synthesis blocked.
Choriocarcinoma,
acute
lymphoblastic
leukemia
(children),
osteogenic
sarcoma, Burkitt's
and other non-
Hodgkin‘s
lymphomas, cancer
of breast, ovary,
bladder, head &
neck
Orally
effecti
ve as
well
as
given
I.V.
bone marrow
depression,
intestinal lesions
and interference
with
embryogenesis.
Drug interaction:
aspirin and
sulfonamides
displace
methotrexate
from plasma
proteins.
C. Antimetabolites
32
1. Mechanism of
Action
2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects
2 Pyrimidine Analogs:
Cytosine Arabinoside
inhibits DNA
synthesis
most effective agent for induction of
remission in acute myelocytic
leukemia; also used for induction of
remission acute lymphoblastic leukemia,
non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; usually used in
combination chemotherapy
Orally
effective
bone marrow
depression
1. Mechanism of
Action
2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects
2 Purine analogs:
6-Mercaptopurine (6-
MP) and Thioguanine
Blocks DNA synthesis
by inhibiting
conversion of
IMP to AMPS and to
XMP as well as
blocking conversion
of AMP to
ADP; also blocks first
step in purine
synthesis.
Feedback inhibition
blocks DNA synthesis
by inhibiting
conversion of IMP to
XMP as well as GMP
to GDP; also blocks
first step in purine
synthesis by
feedback inhibition
most effective agent for induction of
remission in acute myelocytic
leukemia; also used for induction of
remission acute lymphoblastic leukemia,
non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; usually used in
combination chemotherapy
Orally
effective
bone marrow
depression,
33
6. Drug Resistance
One of the fundamental issue in cancer chemotherapy is the development
of cellular drug resistance. It means, tumor cells are no longer respond to
chemotherapeutic agents. For example, melanoma, renal cell cancer,
brain cancer often become resistant to chemo.
A few known reasons:
1. Mutation in p53 tumor suppressor gene occurs in 50% of all tumors.
This leads to resistance to radiation therapy and wide range of
chemotherapy.
2. Defects or loss in mismatch repair (MMR) enzyme family. E.g., colon
cancer no longer respond to fluoropyrimidines, the thiopurines, and
cisplatins.
3. Increased expression of multidrug resistance MDR1 gene which
encodes P-glycoprotein resulting in enhanced drug efflux and reduced
intracellular accumulation. Drugs such as athracyclines, vinca
alkaloids, taxanes, campothecins, even antibody such as imatinib.
34
Summary
1. The main goal of anti-neoplastic drug is to eliminate the cancer cells
without affecting normal tissues.
2. Log-Kill Hypothesis states that a given therapy kills a percentage of
cells, rather then a constant number, therefore, it follows first order
kinetics. Aim for a favorable therapeutic index.
3. Early diagnosis is the key.
4. Combination therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy are effective for small
tumor burden.
5. Two major classes of antineoplastic agents are:
a. Cell Cycle Specific and
b. Cell Cycle Non-Specific agents
5. Because chemotherapeutic agents target not only tumor cells, but also
affect normal dividing cells including bone marrow, hematopoietic, and
GI epithelium. Know what the side effects are.
6. Drug resistance is often associated with loss of p53 function, DNA
mismatch repair system, and increased MDR1 gene expression.

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AntineoplasticAgentsby KEMISA. HASSEN ZAINABU

  • 1. Pharmacology of Antineoplastic Agents 1 Outline of Lecture Topics: 1. Background 2. Antineoplastic Agents: classification a. Cell Cycle Specific (CCS) agents b. Cell Cycle Non-Specific (CCNS) agents c. Miscellaneous (e.g., antibodies) agents 4. Mechanisms of action 5. Side Effects 6. Drug Resistance Dr.Rajarshi Patel, Ph.D. Dept Chemistry
  • 2. 2 PART I 1. Background 2. Antineoplastic Agents a. Cell Cycle Specific (CCS) agents b. Cell Cycle Non-Specific (CCNS) agents c. Miscellaneous (e.g., antibodies) agents
  • 3. Cancer 3 Definition: Cancer* is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems, this process is called metastasis. Categorized based on the functions/locations of the cells from which they originate: 1. Carcinoma - skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. E.g., Epithelial cells. 80-90% reported cancer cases are carcinomas. 2. Sarcoma - bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. 3. Leukemia - White blood cells and their precursor cells such as the bone marrow cells, causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. 4. Lymphoma - cells of the immune system that affects lymphatic system. 5. Myeloma - B-cells that produce antibodies- spreads through lymphatic system. 6. Central nervous system cancers - cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.
  • 4. Cancer Therapeutic Modalities (classical) 4 1. Surgery 2. Radiation 3. Chemotherapy 1/3 of patients without metastasis Respond to surgery and radiation. If diagnosed at early stage, close to 50% cancer could be cured. 50% patients will undergo chemotherapy, to remove micrometastasis. However, chemotherapy is able to cure only about 10-15% of all cancer patients.
  • 5. 5 New types of cancer treatment Hormonal Treatments: These drugs are designed to prevent cancer cell growth by preventing the cells from receiving signals necessary for their continued growth and division. E.g., Breast cancer – tamoxifen after surgery and radiation Specific Inhibitors: Drugs targeting specific proteins and processes that are limited primarily to cancer cells or that are much more prevalent in cancer cells. Antibodies: The antibodies used in the treatment of cancer have been manufactured for use as drugs. E.g., Herceptin, avastin Biological Response Modifiers: The use of naturally occuring, normal proteins to stimulate the body's own defenses against cancer. E.g., Abciximab, rituxmab Vaccines: Stimulate the body's defenses against cancer. Vaccines usually contain proteins found on or produced by cancer cells. By administering these proteins, the treatment aims to increase the response of the body against the cancer cells.
  • 6. 6 Cancer Chemotherapy (Background) A. Most of the recent progress using antineoplastic therapy is based on: 1. Development of new combination therapy of using existing drugs. 2. Better understanding of the mechanisms of antitumor activity. 3. Development of chemotherpeutic approaches to destroying micrometastases 4. Understanding the molecular mechanisms concerning the initiation of tumor growth and metastasis. 5. Recognition of the heterogeneity of tumors B. Recently developed principles which have helped guide the treatment of neoplastic disease 1. A single clonogenic cell can produce enough progeny to kill the host. 2. Unless few malignant cells are present, host immune mechanisms do not play a significant role in therapy of neoplastic disease. 3. A given therapy results in destruction of a constant percentage as opposed to a constant number of cells, therefore, cell kill follows first order kinetics.
  • 7. Cancer Chemotherapy 7 C. Malignancies which respond favorably to chemotherapy: 1. choriocarcinoma, 2. Acute leukemia, 3. Hodgkin's disease, 4. Burkitt's lymphoma, 5. Wilms' tumor, 6. Testicular carcinoma, 7. Ewing's sarcoma, 8. Retinoblastoma in children, 9. Diffuse histiocytic lymphoma and 10.Rhabdomyosarcoma. D. Antineoplastic drugs are most effective against rapidly dividing tumor cells.
  • 8. E. The Main Goal of Antineoplastic Agents IS to eliminate the cancer cells without affecting normal tissues (the concept of differential sensitivity). In reality, all cytotoxic drugs affect normal tissues as well as malignancies - aim for a favorable therapeutic index (aka therapeutic ratio). Therapeutic Index = LD50 ----- ED50 A therapeutic index is the lethal dose of a drug for 50% of the population (LD50) divided by the minimum effective dose for 50% of the population (ED50). 8
  • 9. Infrequent scheduling of treatment courses. Prolongs survival but does not cure. More intensive and frequent treatment. Kill rate > growth rate. Untreated patients F. The effects of tumor burden, scheduling, dosing, and initiation/duration of treatment on patient survival. Early surgical removal of the primary tumor decreases the tumor burden. Chemotherapy will remove persistant secondary tumors. 9
  • 10. 10 General rules of chemotherapy •Combination of several drugs with different mechanisms of action, different resistance mechanisms, different dose-limiting toxicities. •Adjuvant therapy: Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer will come back. Adjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or biological therapy. •Neoadjuvant therapy: Treatment given as a first step to shrink a tumor before the main treatment, which is usually surgery, is given. Examples of neoadjuvant therapy include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. It is a type of induction therapy.
  • 11. 11 Alkylating agents Topoisomerase inhibitors Antimetabolites Molecularly targeted busulfan dactinomycin cytarabine erlotinib carboplatin daunomycin clofarabine imatinib carmustine doxorubicin fludarabine sorafenib cisplatin etoposide gemcitabine sunitinib cyclophosphamide etoposide phosphate mercaptopurine tretinoin dacarbazine idarubicin methotrexate Herceptin ifosfamide irinotecan nelarabine Miscellaneous lomustine liposomal daunomycin thioguanine arsenic trioxide mechlorethamine liposomal doxorubicin Tubulin binders asparaginase melphalan mitoxantrone docetaxel bleomycin oxaliplatin teniposide ixabepilone dexamethasone procarbazine topotecan vinblastine hydroxyurea temozolomide vincristine mitotane thiotepa vinorelbine PEG-asparaginase paclitaxel prednisone Antineoplastic Agents
  • 12. 12 Chemotherapy: classification based on the mechanism of action Antimetabolites: Drugs that interfere with the formation of key biomolecules including nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA. Genotoxic Drugs: Drugs that alkylate or intercalate the DNA causing the loss of its function. Plant-derived inhibitors of mitosis: These agents prevent proper cell division by interfering with the cytoskeletal components that enable the cell to divide. Other Chemotherapy Agents: These agents inhibit cell division by mechanisms that are not covered in the categories listed above.
  • 13. 13
  • 14. 14 G0 = resting phase G1 = pre-replicative phase G2 = post-replicative phase S = DNA synthesis M = mitosis or cell division M S G G 2 1 Hydrocortisone Vincristine,Vinblastine G0 Cyclophosphamide Bleomycin Actinomycin D Actinomycin D 5-Fluorouracil Cytosine arabinoside Methotrexate 6-Mercaptopurine 6-Thioguanine Purine antagonists Methotrexate Cyclophosphamide 5-Fluorouracil Cytosine arabinoside Daunomycin Paclitaxel, Docetaxel resting Cell cycle specificity of Anti-Neoplastic Agents
  • 15. 15 PART II 4. Mechanisms of action 5. Side Effects 6. Drug Resistance Pharmacology of Antineoplastic Agents
  • 16. 16 DNA RNA Protein tubulin Purines and Pyrimidines Asparaginase Tubulin binders Alkylating agents Topoisomerase Inh. Antimetabolites Chemotherapy: Mechanisms of Action 1
  • 17. Major Clinically Useful Alkylating Agents 17 Bis(mechloroethyl)amines Nitrosoureas Aziridines Cancer Chemotherapy Chapter 55. B.G. Katzung
  • 18. 18 H2N O N N HN N HO O O P O NH2 O N N NH N O O P OH O N R Crosslinking: Joining two or more molecules by a covalent bond. This can either occur in the same strand (intrastrand crosslink) or in the opposite strands of the DNA (interstrand crosslink). Crosslinks also occur between DNA and protein. DNA replication is blocked by crosslinks, which causes replication arrest and cell death if the crosslink is not repaired. An Example of DNA Crosslinking
  • 19. 19 Alkylating Agents (Covalent DNA binding drugs) 1. The first class of chemotherapy agents used. 2. They stop tumour growth by cross-linking guanine nucleobases in DNA double-helix strands - directly attacking DNA. 3. This makes the strands unable to uncoil and separate. 4. As this is necessary in DNA replication, the cells can no longer divide. 5. Cell-cycle nonspecific effect 6. Alkylating agents are also mutagenic and carcinogenic A T C G C G G A T G C
  • 20. E.g., Mechlorethamine (Nitrogen Mustards) 20 Cancer Chemotherapy Dr.Rajarshi N. Patel
  • 21. 21 Cyclophosphamide Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent. It is a widely used as a DNA crosslinking and cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent. •It is given orally as well as intravenously with efficacy. •It is inactive in parent form, and must be activated to cytotoxic form by liver CYT450 liver microsomaal system to 4- Hydroxycyclophamide and Aldophosphamide. •4-Hydroxycyclophamide and Aldophosphamide are delivered to the dividing normal and tumor cells. •Aldophosphamide is converted into acrolein and phosphoramide mustard. •They crosslink DNAs resulting in inhibition of DNA synthesis
  • 23. 23 Cyclophosphamide Clinical Applications: 1. Breast Cancer 2. Ovarian Cancer 3. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 4. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) 5. Soft tissue sarcoma 6. Neuroblastoma 7. Wilms’ tumor 8. Rhabdomyosarcoma
  • 24. 24 Cyclophosphamide Major Side effects 1. Nausea and vomiting 2. Decrease in PBL count 3. Depression of blood cell counts 4. Bleeding 5. Alopecia (hair loss) 6. Skin pigmentation 7. Pulmonary fibrosis
  • 25. 25 Ifosphamide Mechanisms of Action Similar to cyclophosphamide Application 1. Germ cell cancer, 2. Cervical carcinoma, 3. Lung cancer 4. Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma 5. Sarcomas Major Side Effects Similar to cyclophosphamide
  • 26. 26 1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects a. Nitrogen Mustards A. Mechlorethamine DNA cross-links, resulting in inhibition of DNA synthesis and function Hodgkin’s and non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma Must be given Orally Nausea and vomiting, decrease in PBL count, BM depression, bleeding, alopecia, skin pigmentation, pulmonary fibrosis B. Cyclophosphamide Same as above Breast, ovarian, CLL, soft tissue sarcoma, WT, neuroblastoma Orally and I.V. Same as above C. Chlorambucil Same as above Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Orally effective Same as above D. Melphalan Same as above Multiple myeloma, breast, ovarian Orally effective Same as above E. Ifosfamide Same as above Germ cell cancer, cervical carcinoma, lung, Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, sarcomas Orally effective Same as above A. Alkylating agents
  • 27. 27 1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects b. Alkyl Sulfonates A. Busulfan Atypical alkylating agent. Chronic granulocytic leukemia Orally effective Bone marrow depression, pulmonary fibrosis, and hyperuricemia c. Nitrosoureas 1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects A. Carmustine DNA damage, it can cross blood-brain barrier Hodgkins and non- Hodgkins lymphoma, brain tumors, G.I. carcinoma Given I.V. must be given slowly. Bone marrow depression, CNS depression, renal toxicity B. Lomustine Lomustine alkylates and crosslinks DNA, thereby inhibiting DNA and RNA synthesis. Also carbamoylates DNA and proteins, resulting in inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis and disruption of RNA processing. Lomustine is lipophilic and crosses the blood-brain barrier Hodgkins and non- Hodgkins lymphoma, malignant melanoma and epidermoid carcinoma of lung Orally effective Nausea and vomiting, Nephrotoxicity, nerve dysfunction C. Streptozotocin DNA damage pancreatic cancer Given I.V. Nausea and vomiting, nephrotoxicity, liver toxicity A. Alkylating agents
  • 28. 28 d. Ethylenimines 1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects A. Triethylene thiophosphoramide (Thio-TEPA) DNA damage, Cytochrome P450 Bladder cancer Given I.V. Nausea and vomiting, fatigue B. Hexamethylmelamine (HMM) DNA damage Advanced ovarian tumor Given orally after food Nausea and vomiting, low blood counts, diarrhea d. Triazenes 1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects A. Dacarbazine (DTIC) Blocks, DNA, RNA and protein synthesis Malignant Melanoma, Hodgkins and non- Hodgkins lymphoma Given I.V. Bone marrow depression, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, bleeding, bruising, blood clots, sore mouths. A. Alkylating agents
  • 30. 30 C. Antimetabolites Folic acid is a growth factor that provides single carbons to the precursors used to form the nucleotides used in the synthesis of DNA and RNA. To function as a cofactor folate must be reduced by DHFR to THF. Folic acid Tetrahydrofolate (THF) Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR); Methyl group and related carbon provider Key factor for the synthesis of DNA & RNA
  • 31. 31 1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects 1. Methot rexate inhibits formation of FH4 (tetrahydrofolate) from folic acid by inhibiting the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR); since FH4 transfers methyl groups essential to DNA synthesis and hence DNA synthesis blocked. Choriocarcinoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (children), osteogenic sarcoma, Burkitt's and other non- Hodgkin‘s lymphomas, cancer of breast, ovary, bladder, head & neck Orally effecti ve as well as given I.V. bone marrow depression, intestinal lesions and interference with embryogenesis. Drug interaction: aspirin and sulfonamides displace methotrexate from plasma proteins. C. Antimetabolites
  • 32. 32 1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects 2 Pyrimidine Analogs: Cytosine Arabinoside inhibits DNA synthesis most effective agent for induction of remission in acute myelocytic leukemia; also used for induction of remission acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; usually used in combination chemotherapy Orally effective bone marrow depression 1. Mechanism of Action 2. Clinical application 3. Route 4. Side effects 2 Purine analogs: 6-Mercaptopurine (6- MP) and Thioguanine Blocks DNA synthesis by inhibiting conversion of IMP to AMPS and to XMP as well as blocking conversion of AMP to ADP; also blocks first step in purine synthesis. Feedback inhibition blocks DNA synthesis by inhibiting conversion of IMP to XMP as well as GMP to GDP; also blocks first step in purine synthesis by feedback inhibition most effective agent for induction of remission in acute myelocytic leukemia; also used for induction of remission acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; usually used in combination chemotherapy Orally effective bone marrow depression,
  • 33. 33 6. Drug Resistance One of the fundamental issue in cancer chemotherapy is the development of cellular drug resistance. It means, tumor cells are no longer respond to chemotherapeutic agents. For example, melanoma, renal cell cancer, brain cancer often become resistant to chemo. A few known reasons: 1. Mutation in p53 tumor suppressor gene occurs in 50% of all tumors. This leads to resistance to radiation therapy and wide range of chemotherapy. 2. Defects or loss in mismatch repair (MMR) enzyme family. E.g., colon cancer no longer respond to fluoropyrimidines, the thiopurines, and cisplatins. 3. Increased expression of multidrug resistance MDR1 gene which encodes P-glycoprotein resulting in enhanced drug efflux and reduced intracellular accumulation. Drugs such as athracyclines, vinca alkaloids, taxanes, campothecins, even antibody such as imatinib.
  • 34. 34 Summary 1. The main goal of anti-neoplastic drug is to eliminate the cancer cells without affecting normal tissues. 2. Log-Kill Hypothesis states that a given therapy kills a percentage of cells, rather then a constant number, therefore, it follows first order kinetics. Aim for a favorable therapeutic index. 3. Early diagnosis is the key. 4. Combination therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy are effective for small tumor burden. 5. Two major classes of antineoplastic agents are: a. Cell Cycle Specific and b. Cell Cycle Non-Specific agents 5. Because chemotherapeutic agents target not only tumor cells, but also affect normal dividing cells including bone marrow, hematopoietic, and GI epithelium. Know what the side effects are. 6. Drug resistance is often associated with loss of p53 function, DNA mismatch repair system, and increased MDR1 gene expression.

Editor's Notes

  • #2: Overall, I have divided this lecture into two major parts. First, some general info. In the second part, we I will talk about cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of a few select Antineoplastic compounds. Most important part of this lecture is the mechanism of action and side effects.
  • #3: Before going into mechanisms of action, we will look at some basics.
  • #4: In the next slide, we will look at the old and new ways to treat cancer.
  • #5: 1. 30% of patients respond to surgery and radiation. 2. If diagnosed early, 50% cancer could be cured. 3. Although, 50% of the patients undergo chemotherapy, only 10-15% patients respond to chemotherapy. In the next slide, we will look at the background of cancer chemotherapy.
  • #6: This slide is for your information only. We are not going to cover these agents here. But I thought, you should be aware of the new developments.
  • #12: Here is a list of antineoplastic agents. By no means it is complete list. In the next slide, we will look at how these compounds may inside tumor cells.
  • #13: All these agents could be either cell cycle specific or cell cycle non specific anti-neoplastic agents.
  • #14: In next slides we are going to look at mechanism of action of alkylating agents.
  • #15: In next slides we are going to look at mechanism of action of alkylating agents.
  • #16: In next slides we are going to look at mechanism of action of alkylating agents.
  • #17: In next slides we are going to look at mechanisms of action of alkylating agents.
  • #21: .
  • #22: .
  • #23: Cyclophosphamide is a widely used alkylating agent. It is given orally as well as intravenously. It is inactive in parent form, and must be activated to cytotoxic form by liver CYT450. 4-Hydroxycyclophamide and Aldophosphamide are delivered to the normal as well as tumor cells. Aldophosphamide is converted into acrolein and phosphoramide mustard. They crosslink DNAs resulting in inhibition of DNA synthesis.
  • #24: Cyclophosphamide is a widely used alkylating agent. It is given orally as well as intravenously. It is inactive in parent form, and must be activated to cytotoxic form by liver CYT450. 4-Hydroxycyclophamide and Aldophosphamide are delivered to the normal as well as tumor cells. Aldophosphamide is converted into acrolein and phosphoramide mustard. They crosslink DNAs resulting in inhibition of DNA synthesis.
  • #25: Nausea and vomiting, decrease in PBL count, BM depression, bleeding, alopecia, skin pigmentation, pulmonary fibrosis
  • #26: Nausea and vomiting, decrease in PBL count, BM depression, bleeding, alopecia, skin pigmentation, pulmonary fibrosis
  • #31: Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid analog that binds with active site of DHFR, interfering with synthesis of tetrahydrofolate (THF), which serves as the key one-carbon carrier for enzymatic processes for involved in de novo synthesis of thymidylate, purine nucleotides, and amino acid serine and methionine.
  • #32: Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid analog that binds with active site of DHFR, interfering with synthesis of tetrahydrofolate (THF), which serves as the key one-carbon carrier for enzymatic processes for involved in de novo synthesis of thymidylate, purine nucleotides, and amino acid serine and methionine.
  • #35: Surgery then chemotherapy is adjuvant