Chap 45

Question 1

Analogue

Answer 1

A chemical compound with a structure similar to that of another compound but differing from it with respect to some component

Question 2

Anaplasia

Answer 2

The absence of the cellular differentiation that is part of the normal cellular growth process

Question 3

Antineoplastic Drugs

Answer 3

Drugs used to treat cancer. Also called cancer drugs, anticancer drugs, cancer chemotherapy, and chemotherapy

Question 4

Benign

Answer 4

Denoting a neoplasm that is noncancerous and therefore not an immediate threat to life

Question 5

Cancer

Answer 5

A malignant neoplastic disease, the natural course of which is fatal

Question 6

Carcinomas

Answer 6

Malignant epithelial neoplasms that tend to invade surrounding tissue and metastasize to distant regions of the body

Question 7

Cell Cycle-Nonspecific

Answer 7

Denoting antineoplastic drugs that are cytotoxic in any phase of the cellular growth cycle

Question 8

Cell Cycle-Specific

Answer 8

Denoting antineoplastic drugs that are cytotoxic during a specific phase of the cellular growth cycle

Question 9

Clone

Answer 9

A cell or group of cells that is genetically identical to a given parent cell

Question 10

Differentiation

Answer 10

An important part of normal cellular growth in which immature cells mature into specialized cells

Question 11

Dose limiting Adverse Effects

Answer 11

Adverse effects that prevent an antineoplastic drug from being given in higher dosages, often restricting the effectiveness of the drug

Question 12

Emetic Potential

Answer 12

The potential of a drug to cause nausea and vomiting

Question 13

Extravasation

Answer 13

The leakage of any intravenously or intraarterially administered medication into the tissue space surrounding the vein or artery. Such an event can cause serious tissue injury, especially with antineoplastic drugs

Question 14

Gene Expression

Answer 14

How a cell expresses a receptor or gene; the process in which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a gene product

Question 15

Growth Fraction

Answer 15

The percentage of cells in mitosis at any given time

Question 16

Intrathecal

Answer 16

A route of drug injection through the theca of the spinal cord and into the subarachnoid space. This route is used to deliver certain chemotherapy medications to kill cancer cells in the central nervous system

Question 17

Leukemias

Answer 17

Malignant neoplasms of blood-forming tissues characterized by the replacement of normal bone marrow cells with leukemic blasts resulting in abnormal numbers and forms of immature white blood cells in the circulation

Question 18

Lymphomas

Answer 18

Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid tissue

Question 19

Malignant

Answer 19

Tending to worsen and cause death; anaplastic, invasive, and metastatic

Question 20

Metastasis

Answer 20

The process by which a cancer spreads from the original site of growth to a new and remote part of the body

Question 21

Mitosis

Answer 21

The process of cell reproduction occurring in somatic (nonsexual) cells and resulting in the formation of two genetically identical daughter cells containing the diploid (complete) number of chromosomes characteristic of the species

Question 22

Mitotic Index

Answer 22

The number of cells per unit (usually 1000 cells) undergoing mitosis during a given time

Question 23

Mutagen

Answer 23

A chemical or physical agent that induces or increases genetic mutations by causing changes in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Question 24

Mutation

Answer 24

A permanent change in DNA that is transmissible to future cellular generations. Mutations can transform to normal cells into cancer cells

Question 25

Myelosuppression

Answer 25

Suppression of bone marrow function, which can result in dangerously reduced numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets

Question 26

Nadir

Answer 26

Lowest point in any fluctuating value over time; for example, the lowest white blood cell count measured after the count has been depressed by chemotherapy

Question 27

Neoplasm

Answer 27

Any new and abnormal growth, specifically growth that is uncontrolled and progressive; a synonym for tumor. A malignant neoplasm or tumor is synonymous with cancer

Question 28

Nucleic Acids

Answer 28

Molecules of DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the nucleus of every cell (hence the name nucleic acid). Chromosomes are made up of DNA and encode all of the genes necessary for cellular structure and fashion

Question 29

Oncogenic

Answer 29

Cancer producing; often applied to tumor-inducing viruses

Question 30

Paraneoplastic Syndromes

Answer 30

Symptom complexes arising in patients with cancer that cannot be explained by local or distant spread of their tumors

Question 31

Primary Lesion

Answer 31

The original site of growth of a tumor

Question 32

Sarcomas

Answer 32

Malignant neoplasms of the connective tissues arising in bone, fibrous, fatty, muscular, synovial, vascular, or neural tissue often first presenting as painless swellings

Question 33

Tumor

Answer 33

A new growth of tissue characterized by a progressive, uncontrolled proliferation of cells. Tumors can be solid (e.g. brain tumor) or circulating (e.g. leukemia or lymphoma), and benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Circulating tumors are more precisely called hematologic tumors or hematologic malignancies. A tumor is also called a neoplasm

Question 34

Tumor Lysis Syndrome

Answer 34

A common metabolic complication of chemotherapy for rapidly growing tumors. It is characterized by the presence of excessive cellular waste products and electrolytes, including uric acid, phosphate, and potassium, and by reduced serum calcium levels

Question 35

Asparaginase (Elspar) Mechanism of Action

Answer 35

G1 (first gap phase or postmitotic phase- enzymes necessary for DNA synthesis are produced): Antineoplastic Enzymes
It is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of the amino acid asparagine to aspartic acid and ammonia
Leukemic cells are then unable to synthesize the asparagine required for the synthesis of DNA and proteins needed for cell survival

Question 36

Cytarabine (ara-C, Cytosar) Mechanism of Action

Answer 36

S (DNA synthesis phase- DNA synthesis takes place, from DNA strand separation to replication of each strand to create duplicate DNA molecules): Antimetabolites- pyrimidine analogs
A synthetic analogue of cytosine
Incorporate themselves into the metabolic pathway for the synthesis of DNA and RNA and thereby interrupting the synthesis of both of these nucleic acids

Question 37

Etoposide (VP-16, generic) Mechanism of Action

Answer 37

G2 (second gap phase or premitotic phase- RNA and sepcialized proteins are made): Epipodophyllotoxin derivatives
Exert cytotoxic effects by inhibiting the enzyme topoisomerase II, which causes breaks in DNA strands
Work during the late S phase and the G2 phase of the cell cycle

Question 38

Methotrexate Mechanism of Action

Answer 38

S (DNA synthesis phase- DNA synthesis takes place, from DNA strand separation to replication of each strand to create duplicate DNA molecules): Antimetabolites- folate analogs
Inhibits the action of dihydrofolate reductase, an enzyme responsible for converting folic acid to its active form, folate, which is needed for the synthesis of DNA
Results in DNA that is not produced and the cell dies
Immunosuppressive activity- can inhibit lymphocyte multiplication

Question 39

Paclitaxel (Taxol) Mechanism of Action

Answer 39

M (mitosis phase- divided into four subphases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase; cel divides (reproduces) into two daughter cells): Taxanes
Act in the late G2 phase and M phase of the cell cycle
Work by causing the formation of nonfunctional microtubules, which halts mitosis during metaphase

Question 40

Vincristine Mechanism of Action

Answer 40

M (mitosis phase- divided into four subphases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase; cel divides (reproduces) into two daughter cells): Vinca Alkaloids
Bind to the protein tubulin during the metaphase of mitosis (M phase)
Prevents the assembly of key structures called microtubules
Results in the dissolution of other important structures known as mitotic spindles
Cells cannot reproduce properly
Results in inhibition of cell division and cell death