Oncology Pharmacology Flashcards

Targeted therapy with imatinib (Gleevec) works by inhibiting which specific molecular target?

Answer: BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase

Imatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that specifically targets the BCR-ABL fusion protein, which drives CML cell proliferation.

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is indicated for cancers that overexpress which receptor?

Answer: HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)

Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets HER2-overexpressing cancers, most commonly HER2+ breast and gastric cancers.

Which drug class inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in cancer treatment?

Answer: Everolimus and temsirolimus

Everolimus and temsirolimus are mTOR inhibitors used in renal cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, and certain breast cancers.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab work by blocking which protein to restore T-cell function?

Answer: PD-1 (programmed death-1)

Nivolumab is an anti-PD-1 antibody that blocks the PD-1 checkpoint, preventing tumor cells from suppressing T-cell immune responses.

EGFR inhibitors such as erlotinib are most effective in NSCLC patients who have which characteristic?

Answer: Activating EGFR mutation

Activating mutations in the EGFR gene (exons 19 and 21) predict sensitivity to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer.

Bevacizumab (Avastin) targets tumor angiogenesis by inhibiting which growth factor?

Answer: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds and neutralizes VEGF, preventing the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow.