Changes in sensitivity and decrees of effective concentration of the drug can result in the development of resistance

09.01.a Principles of Anticancer Therapy

09.01.b Anticancer Drugs

09.01.c Anticancer Drug Toxicity

09.01d Resistance to Theray

Chemotherapeutic techniques have a range of side effects that depend on the type of medications used. The most common medications mainly affect the fast-dividing cells of the body, such as blood cells and the cells lining the mouth, stomach, and intestines. Common side effects include: Depression of the immune system Fatigue. Tendency to bleed easily. Gastrointestinal distress. Hair loss.

09.01.a Principles of Anticancer Therapy

09.01.b Anticancer Drugs

09.01.c Anticancer Drug Toxicity

09.01d Resistance to Theray

Chemotherapy (sometimes cancer chemotherapy) is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen. Most commonly, chemotherapy acts by killing cells that divide rapidly, one of the main properties of most cancer cells. This means that it also harms cells that divide rapidly under normal circumstances: cells in the bone marrow, digestive tract and hair follicles. This results in the most common side effects of chemotherapy: myelosuppression (decreased production of blood cells, hence also immunosuppression), mucositis (inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract), and alopecia (hair loss). Newer anticancer drugs act directly against abnormal proteins in cancer cells; this is termed targeted therapy and is technically not chemotherapy

09.01.a Principles of Anticancer Therapy

09.01.b Anticancer Drugs

09.01.c Anticancer Drug Toxicity

09.01d Resistance to Theray

> Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells coupled with malignant behavior: invasion and metastasis. Cancer is thought to be caused by the interaction between genetic susceptibility and environmental toxins. In the broad sense, most chemotherapeutic drugs work by impairing mitosis (cell division), effectively targeting fast-dividing cells. As these drugs cause damage to cells they are termed cytotoxic. Some drugs cause cells to undergo apoptosis (so-called "self programmed cell death"). Scientists have yet to identify specific features of malignant and immune cells that would make them uniquely targetable (barring some recent examples, such as the Philadelphia chromosome as targeted by imatinib). This means that other fast-dividing cells, such as those responsible for hair growth and for replacement of the intestinal epithelium (lining), are also often affected. However, some drugs have a better side effect profile than others, enabling doctors to adjust treatment regimens to the advantage of patients in certain situations. As chemotherapy affects cell division, tumors with high growth fractions (such as acute myelogenous leukemia and the aggressive lymphomas, including Hodgkin's disease) are more sensitive to chemotherapy, as a larger proportion of the targeted cells are undergoing cell division at any time. Malignancies with slower growth rates, such as indolent lymphomas, tend to respond to chemotherapy much more modestly. Drugs affect "younger" tumors (i.e., more differentiated) more effectively, because mechanisms regulating cell growth are usually still preserved. With succeeding generations of tumor cells, differentiation is typically lost, growth becomes less regulated, and tumors become less responsive to most chemotherapeutic agents. Near the center of some solid tumors, cell division has effectively ceased, making them insensitive to chemotherapy. Another problem with solid tumors is the fact that the chemotherapeutic agent often does not reach the core of the tumor. Solutions to this problem include radiation therapy (both brachytherapy and teletherapy) and surgery. Over time, cancer cells become more resistant to chemotherapy treatments. Recently, scientists have identified small pumps on the surface of cancer cells that actively move chemotherapy from inside the cell to the outside. Research on p-glycoprotein and other such chemotherapy efflux pumps, is currently ongoing. Medications to inhibit the function of p-glycoprotein are undergoing testing as of June, 2007 to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy.

09.01.a Principles of Anticancer Therapy

09.01.b Anticancer Drugs

09.01.c Anticancer Drug Toxicity

09.01d Resistance to Theray

Teriparatide (Forteo, also available in generic form) is a recombinant form of parathyroid hormone, used in the treatment of some forms of osteoporosis. It is manufactured and marketed by Eli Lilly and Company. Teriparatide is the portion of human parathyroid hormone (PTH), amino acid sequence 1 through 34, of the complete molecule (containing 84 amino acids). Endogenous PTH is the primary regulator of calcium and phosphate metabolism in bone and kidney. PTH increases serum calcium, partially accomplishing this by increasing bone resorption. Thus, chronically elevated PTH will deplete bone stores. However, intermittent exposure to PTH will activate osteoblasts more than osteoclasts. Thus, once-daily injections of teriparatide have a net effect of stimulating new bone formation leading to increased bone mineral density. Teriparatide is the first, and to date only, FDA approved agent for the treatment of osteoporosis that stimulates new bone formation.

08.02.a Adrenal Steroids

08.02.b Estrogens

08.02.c Progesteron

08.02.d Oral Contraceptive Pills

08.02.e Androgens

08.03 Antithyroid Drugs

08.04 Hypothalamic-Pituitary Hormone

08.05.a Bisphosphonates

08.05.b Teriparatide

Bisphosphonates (also called diphosphonates) are a class of drugs that prevent the loss of bone mass, used to treat osteoporosis and similar diseases. They are called bisphosphonates because they have two phosphonate (PO3) groups and are similar in structure to pyrophosphate. Evidence shows that they reduce the risk of osteoporotic fracture in those who have had previous fractures however do not reduce fracture risk in those with osteoporosis who have not previously had a fracture. Bone undergoes constant turnover and is kept in balance (homeostasis) by osteoblasts creating bone and osteoclasts destroying bone. Bisphosphonates inhibit the digestion of bone by encouraging osteoclasts to undergo apoptosis, or cell death, thereby slowing bone loss. The uses of bisphosphonates include the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, osteitis deformans ("Paget's disease of bone"), bone metastasis (with or without hypercalcaemia), multiple myeloma, primary hyperparathyroidism, osteogenesis imperfecta, and other conditions that feature bone fragility.

08.02.a Adrenal Steroids

08.02.b Estrogens

08.02.c Progesteron

Hypothalamic-pituitary hormones refer to a class of hormones that are produced by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Although the organs in which they are produced are relatively small, the effects of these hormones cascade throughout the body. It is possible for the function of these hormones to be altered by physical activity.

08.02.a Adrenal Steroids

08.02.b Estrogens

08.02.c Progesteron

08.02.d Oral Contraceptive Pills

08.02.e Androgens

08.03 Antithyroid Drugs

08.04 Hypothalamic-Pituitary Hormone

08.05.a Bisphosphonates

08.05.b Teriparatide

An antithyroid agent is a hormone antagonist acting upon thyroid hormones. The main antithyroid drugs are carbimazole (in the UK), methimazole (in the US), and propylthiouracil/PTU. A less common antithyrioid agent is potassium perchlorate.

08.02.a Adrenal Steroids

08.02.b Estrogens

08.02.c Progesteron

08.02.d Oral Contraceptive Pills

08.02.e Androgens

08.03 Antithyroid Drugs

08.04 Hypothalamic-Pituitary Hormone

08.05.a Bisphosphonates

08.05.b Teriparatide

Androgen, also called androgenic hormone or testoid, is the generic term for any natural or synthetic compound, usually a steroid hormone, that stimulates or controls the development and maintenance of male characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors. This includes the activity of the accessory male sex organs and development of male secondary sex characteristics. Androgens were first discovered in 1936. Androgens are also the original anabolic steroids and the precursor of all estrogens, the female sex hormones. The primary and most well-known androgen is testosterone, other less important androgen are dihydrotestosterone and androstenedione.

08.02.a Adrenal Steroids

08.02.b Estrogens

08.02.c Progesteron

08.02.d Oral Contraceptive Pills

08.02.e Androgens

08.03 Antithyroid Drugs

08.04 Hypothalamic-Pituitary Hormone

08.05.a Bisphosphonates

08.05.b Teriparatide

Oral contraceptives are medications taken by mouth for the purpose of birth control. Two types of female oral contraceptive pill are widely available: * The combined oral contraceptive pill contains oestrogen and a progestogen, and is taken once per day. * The progestogen-only pill contains only progestogen, and is also taken once per day.

08.02.a Adrenal Steroids

08.02.b Estrogens

08.02.c Progesteron

08.02.d Oral Contraceptive Pills

08.02.e Androgens

08.03 Antithyroid Drugs

08.04 Hypothalamic-Pituitary Hormone

08.05.a Bisphosphonates

08.05.b Teriparatide

08.01.a Insulins

08.01.b Oral Hypoglycemics

08.01.c Metformin

08.01.d Acarbose

08.01.e Thiazolidinediones

08.01.f Agents Affecting GLP1

08.02.a Adrenal Steroids

08.02.b Estrogens

08.02.c Progesteron

08.02.d Oral Contraceptive Pills

08.02.e Androgens

Estrogens are a group of compounds named for their importance in the estrous cycle of humans and other animals. They are the primary female sex hormones. Natural estrogens are steroid hormones, while some synthetic ones are non-steroidal. Their name comes from the Greek words estrus = sexual desire + gen = to generate. Estrogens are synthesized in all vertebrates as well as some insects. Their presence in both vertebrates and insects suggests that estrogenic sex hormones have an ancient evolutionary history. Estrogens are used as part of some oral contraceptives, in estrogen replacement therapy for postmenopausal women, and in hormone replacement therapy for trans women.

08.01.a Insulins

08.01.b Oral Hypoglycemics

08.01.c Metformin

08.01.d Acarbose

08.01.e Thiazolidinediones

08.01.f Agents Affecting GLP1

08.02.a Adrenal Steroids

08.02.b Estrogens

08.02.c Progesteron

08.02.d Oral Contraceptive Pills

08.02.e Androgens

Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior. * Glucocorticoids such as cortisol control carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism and are anti-inflammatory by preventing phospholipid release, decreasing eosinophil action and a number of other mechanisms. * Mineralocorticoids such as aldosterone control electrolyte and water levels, mainly by promoting sodium retention in the kidney.

08.01.a Insulins

08.01.b Oral Hypoglycemics

08.01.c Metformin

08.01.d Acarbose

08.01.e Thiazolidinediones

08.01.f Agents Affecting GLP1

08.02.a Adrenal Steroids

08.02.b Estrogens

08.02.c Progesteron

08.02.d Oral Contraceptive Pills

08.02.e Androgens