Anti Cancer Drugs

Question 1

___ cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death regardless of gender

Answer 1

lung

Question 2

three factors that can cause cancer

Answer 2

genetics, environment, diet

Question 3

there is an increased incidence in ___ cancer

Answer 3

colon

Question 4

drugs that act during any phase of the cell cycle

Answer 4

cell cycle-nonspecific (CCNS)

Question 5

drugs exert their influence during a specific phase of the cell cycle and are most effective against rapidly growing cancer cells

Answer 5

cell cycle-specific (CCS)

Question 6

___ and ___ are two factors that play a major role in how the cancer cells respond to anticancer drugs

Answer 6

growth fraction and doubling time

Question 7

the percent of actively dividing cells, decreases as the tumor enlarges, and doubling time increases

Answer 7

growth fraction

Question 8

the time it takes for a tumor to double in size

Answer 8

doubling time

Question 9

anticancer drugs are more effective against neoplastic cells that have a high ___

Answer 9

growth fraction

Question 10

treated with surgery first, followed by chemo to eliminate any residual cancer cells that may remain in the body

Answer 10

adjuvant therapy

Question 11

___ may be given first to help shrink a large tumor, so that it can be surgically removed

Answer 11

neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Question 12

used to relieve symptoms associated with advanced disease, can improve quality of life

Answer 12

palliative chemotherapy

Question 13

chemo administration is guided by specific ___ based on the results of controlled research studies.

Answer 13

protocols

Question 14

the length of treatment is determined by the type and extent of the ___, the type of ___ given, expected ___ of the drugs, and the amount of time that normal cells need to ___.

Answer 14

malignancy, chemo, side effects, recover

Question 15

___ drug therapy is not usually used to treat cancer because combination therapy with two or more anticancer drugs has demonstrated more effective tumoricidal activity

Answer 15

single-agent

Question 16

to maximize cell death, ___ and ___ drugs are often combined to increase synergistic effects

Answer 16

CCNS and CCS

Question 17

a combination of antineoplastic drugs has the advantage of ____ while increasing ____

Answer 17

decreasing drug resistance while increasing cancer cell destruction

Question 18

____ drugs exert adverse effects on rapidly growing normal cells, such as skin and hair

also affect cells in the GI tract, mucus membranes, bone marrow, and reproductive system

Answer 18

anticancer

Question 19

____ can occur when there is a significant decrease in the bone marrow activity that results in decreased WBCs, platelets, and RBCs

Answer 19

myelosuppression

Question 20

adverse effects to anticancer drugs

Answer 20

1) anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia
2) anorexia, N/V/D, stomatitis
3) alopecia, fatigue, and infertility

pg 407 and 408

Question 21

damage to cell’s DNA by cross-linkage of DNA strands, abnormal base pairing, or DNA strand breaks, thus preventing the reproduction of cancer cells.

belong to the CCNS category

Answer 21

alkylating drugs

Question 22

an alkylating drug, is an analogue of nitrogen mustard

is a severe vesicant that causes tissue necrosis if it infiltrates into the tissues

Answer 22

cyclophosphamide (PO, IV; take w/ food)

2-3L of water/day

monitor blood count and BUN and creatinine

monitor IV site, I&O, and nutritional status

Question 23

the pt should be well hydrated while taking cyclophosphamide to prevent ___

Answer 23

hemorrhagic cystitis (bleeding due to severe bladder inflammation)

Question 24

resemble natural substances, building blocks that not only synthesize but also recycle and break down organic compounds used by the body

interfere with various substances needed for normal cell function

Answer 24

antimetabolites (e.g. 5-fluorouracil, floxuridine)

antimetabolites are classified according to the substances with which they interfere

Question 25

a folate antimetabolite; affects cells that have high metabolic rates, such as neoplasms, hair follicles, endothelium, cells of the GI tract, fetal cells, and bone marrow

Answer 25

methotrexate

used to treat leukemias and cancers of the GI tract, head and neck, breast, and ovaries

monitor for bleeding and infection, CBC and electrolytes

Question 26

are similar to natural antibiotics; however, they do not treat infections; instead, they interfere with DNA replication and RNA transcription of cancer cells (CCNS)

Answer 26

antitumor antibiotics
-icin
avoid direct skin contact, cardiotoxic keep on heart monitor
(bleomycin CCS)

Question 27

derived from plants and are cell cycle specific; they block cell division at the M phase of the cell cycle (block cell division)

Answer 27

plant alkaloids (vincristine)

used w/ another therapy

Question 28

adverse reactions to plant alkaloids

Answer 28

neurotoxicity: loss of deep tendon reflexes, muscle weakness, paresthesia

Question 29

the fatty coating helps the chemotherapy drug remain in the system longer and increases the duration of therapeutic effects; also decrease side effects

Answer 29

liposomal chemotherapy

Question 30

hormones and hormonal agonists and antagonists

Answer 30

1) corticosteroids
2) sex hormones
3) antiandrogens
4) selective estrogen receptor modulators
5) luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists
6) aromatase inhibitors

Question 31

corticosteroids ___ blood sugar

Answer 31

increase

Question 32

drugs that are used to slow the growth of hormone-dependent tumors (e.g. prostate and breast cancer)

Answer 32

sex hormones

Question 33

block the effects of testosterone and estrogen, respectively, thereby slowing or shrinking cancers

Answer 33

antiandrogens

Question 34

primarily used for breast cancer in both men and women

Answer 34

selective estrogen receptor modulators (tamoxifen)

Question 35

block the peripheral conversion of androgens to estrogens, thus suppressing the postmenopausal synthesis of estrogen and slowing tumor growth

Answer 35

aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole)

Question 36

which vaccine can be used to prevent cancer

Answer 36

HPV (cervical cancer and genital warts)