Classes of chemotherapeutic agents

All forms of curative chemotherapy, the goal is elimination of all tumor stem cells. The method of combining agents help to combat tumor cell resistance and increase the tumor cell killing while avoiding the compounding of toxic effects.
A. Alkylating agents
B. Platinum analogues
C. Antimetabolites
D. Antimicrotubule agents
E. Topoisomerase inhibitors
F. Antibiotics

Prevention of cancer

Primary prevention
1. Lifestyle modifications
2. Chemoprevention
-isotretinoin and acyclic retinoids
-aspirin and other NSAIDs
-betacarotene and vitamin E
-calcium and selenium
-tamoxifen
-raloxifene
-isoflavones
-finasteride
Other current trials:
-folic acid
-fish oils
-vitamin suplementation
-polyprenols
2. Secondary prevention
-screening for breast cancer: digital mammography, MRI.
-screening for lung cancer: CT-scan, xray
-screening for cervical cancer: papanicolaou test, HPV DNA test.
-screening for colorectal cancer: colonoscopy
-the prostate,lung,colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial: PSA, DRE, chest xray,sigmoidoscopy, transvaginal ultrasound, CA 125.

The Ten most common cancers in the U.S. 1998-2002

Men: women
1. Prostate 1. Breast
2. Lung 2. Lung
3. Colorectal 3. Colorectal
4. Bladder 4. Uterus
5. NHL 5. Ovary
6. Melanoma 6. NHL
7. Oral/pharinx 7. Melanoma
8. Kidney 8. Thyroid
9. Leukemia 9. Pancreas
10. Pancreas 10. Leukemia

Early detection of cancer

*breast =>
-Population: women, age 20+
-Test/procedure:
breast self-examination-> monthly, starting at age 20
Clinical breast examination-> every 3 years, ages 20-39
Mammography->annual, starting at age 40
*colorectal=>
-Population:Men and women, age 50+
-tes/procedure:
Fecal occult blood test/fobt: annual, starting at age 20
Flexible sigmoidoscopy: every 5 years, age 50
Double-contrast barium enema/dcbe: every 5 years, starting at age 50
Colonoscopy: every 10 years, starting at age 50
*prostate=>
Population: age 50
Test/procedure: digital rectal examination, prostate-spesific antigen test: annualy, starting at age 50
*cervic=>
-test/procedure:
pap test: beginning 3 years after first vaginal intercourse, but no later than 21 years of age. Every 2 years using liquid-based after age 30. Three or more normal pap test and no abnormal pap test in the last 10 years may choose to stop cervical cancer screening.
*cancer-related check-up
Population: men and women, age 20+
Test/procedure:
healt examination: thyroid, testicles, ovaries, lymph node, oral cavity, and skin.

Viral carcinogens

* epstein-barr virus = burkitt's lymphoma, hodgkins disease, immunosuppression-related lymphoma, sinonasal angiocentric T-cell lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
* hepatitis B = hepatocellular carcinoma
* hepatitis C = hepatocellular carcinoma
* human immunodeficiency virus-1 = kaposis sarcoma, non-hodgkins lymphoma
* human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 = cervical cancer, anal cancer.
* human T-cell lymphotropic viruses = adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma