Cytoxan (aka Cytarabin)
Kristina got her last dose of Chemo yesterday , a drug
called Cytarabin (or Cytoxan)
What is Cytarabin you may ask (or even if you didn’t, if you
care to read on, we’ll tell you).
Here’s what the literature says. Cytarabine is the most effective cytotoxic agent
in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Cytoxan. Cytotoxic. Any
time the word toxic is used in something you put into your body, it’s gotta be
good. Toxic? Yummy.
May I have two please? (Did they
really think changing the suffix from ‘toxin’ to ‘toxan’ would work?
Let’s break down the word cytotoxic. Two words.
Might as well put a “Mr Yuk” sticker on the second one but the first one
is Greek from the Greek word Kutos, or ‘vessel’. From the word vessel but means ‘Cell’ (as in
cytoplasm). So Cytotoxic. Cell Killer.
Trained assassins that seek out mostly cancer cells with collateral damage
to cells that act like cancer cells (sounds like poor policing, but I digress).
In the early 1950’s, cytarabine was discovered as a
nucleoside (containing arabinose sugar) within a species of sponges (cryptotethia
crypto, if you really want to know). These
buggers play a role in DNA synthesis.
According to my research (over coffee, pursuing journals) I
found a guy who claims that “Cryptotethia Crypta, possibly one of the coolest
sea sponges ever, possess two very interesting free state elements”.. then goes
one to use way too many syllables and after he uses the word ‘cool’ he wanders
off into scientific speak that my partially caffeinated brain can’t understand.
But the essence is the chemical in these sponges inhibit cell
growth by attacking the cells DNA replication cycle. If you’re not replicating, you’re safe. Any
cell that replicates becomes the target.
In what is a clear copy paste with little understanding of
what this actually says, here’s the formal description: Cytarabine
is incorporated into DNA, it blocks DNA synthesis by inhibiting the function of
DNA and RNA polymerases. The most essential step in the AraC activation is
phosphorylation into the monophosphate form, which is catalyzed by
deoxycytidine kinase (dCK).
Personally, I like the fact
it comes from the coolest sea sponge ever.
Blogger pauses, sips coffee,
ponders the larger world.
Chemo, as we learned a few
posts earlier, has roots in the German Army’s use of mustard gas during World War
One. Now we find out that one of the specific
chemicals used for AML comes from Sea Sponges.
Medical discoveries all within the 1900’s and further refined over the past
several years to offer hope and a life saving gift to Kristina, currently lying
in a hospital bed benefiting from these medical discoveries and advancements.
Kristina slept most of yesterday
afternoon, a reprieve as the side effects of these medical wonders kicked in.
Kristina is now entering a
critical phase. As much as the meds and
new stem cells are doing their thing, there’ll be a shift to her own body’s
creation of healthy blood cells. But she’s
got to ward off infection which is now the most acute risk between now and when
healthy blood again courses through the body.
. With a highly compromised
immune system, it’s infection that becomes public enemy #1.
She texted this morning. Yucky coating in her mouth and no real
appetite. She’s forcing down a ‘wee bit
of food here and there’. She’s using
some stuff Leigh gave her for dry mouth and it’s helping a bit.
And the final bit of news is
that they’re checking for C diff again. Results
should be back by end of day. This is
one of many infections they’ll be looking for.
The challenge is that some of the side effects of the chemo can be very
similar to C diff. The C diff bacteria
emit a cytotoxic substance, so tests are needed to discount the C diff possibility. In an abundance of caution, her visitors will
need to gown up until that possibility is discounted, which should be later
today. Edit 9:08pm. Results came in negative. Whew!!!
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