Chapter 14: Antineoplastic Drugs

Question 1

Neoplasm

Answer 1

new cell growth

Question 2

Tumors can be classified as either

Answer 2

benign or malignant

Question 3

Antineoplastic drugs are used to treat

Answer 3

tumors; counteracting the development, growth, or spread of malignant cells, and therefore treats various types of cancers

Question 4

cancer therapy usually includes a combo of

Answer 4

surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy

Question 5

name five types of tissues affected by antineoplastic drugs

Answer 5

1. bone marrow
2. GI epithelium
3. skin
4. hair follicles
5. white blood cells

Question 6

Name the 9 major groups of antineoplastic agents.

Answer 6

1. antimetabolites
2. alkylating agents
3. mitotic inhibitors
4. antitumor antibiotics
5. hormones and hormone modifiers
6. biological therapies
7. targeted cancer therapies
8. vaccines
9. radioactive isotopes

Question 7

palliative

Answer 7

Alleviation of symptoms

Question 8

proliferation/proliferating

Answer 8

Reproducing rapidly

Question 9

immunosuppressive

Answer 9

Suppression of body’s immune system

Question 10

cytotoxic

Answer 10

Destructive to cells

Question 11

leukopenia

Answer 11

Abnormal decrease in blood platelets

Question 12

thrombocytopenia

Answer 12

Low blood platelet count

Question 13

alopecia

Answer 13

Condition that causes hair loss

Question 14

necrosis

Answer 14

Death of body tissue

Question 15

phototoxicity

Answer 15

Sensitivity to sunlight/ other forms of light

Question 16

intrathecal

Answer 16

Injection into the spinal canal

Question 17

name two injectable antimetabolites

Answer 17

1. methotrexate 2.fluorouracil

Question 18

Methotrexate is also available orally and has been used to treat other conditions. Name two.

Answer 18

1. lupus

2. severe, resistant cases of psoriasis

Question 19

Alkylating Agents are used in the treatment of a wide range of cancers. These medications prevent cell growth by damaging DNA. Name two alkylating agents:

Answer 19

1.cisplatin 2. cyclophosphamide

Question 20

Mitotic Inhibitors are often plant alkaloids and other compounds derived from natural products that block cell division and reproduction (mitosis). Name two mitotic inhibitors.

Answer 20

1. Plant Alkaloids 2. Taxanes

Question 21

List two conditions that can result from using mitotic inhibitors.

Answer 21

1. neurotoxicity

2. severe constipation

Question 22

What happens if mitotic inhibitors are injected intrathecally?

Answer 22

its fatal and must not be used

Question 23

Antitumor Antibiotics are used to treat a wide variety of malignancies. Which medication is considered the most active chemotherapy agent?

Answer 23

Doxorubicin

Question 24

Name three types of cancers can benefit from Doxorubicin

Answer 24

1. breast
2. lung
3. gastric

Question 25

Which vital organ can be permanently damaged if a maximum lifetime dose is reached?

Answer 25

heart

Question 26

Hormones used in the treatment of cancer include:

Answer 26

corticosteroids (Example: antiestrogen)

Question 27

Hormones used in the treatment of cancer include:

Answer 27

antiestrogens (Example: tamoxifen (binds to estrogen receptors on various tissues))

Question 28

Biological Therapies

Answer 28

are designed to repair, stimulate, or enhance cancer patients’ natural immune system to recognize and attach cancer cells.

Question 29

the type of biological therapy that is most widely used in cancer treatments:

Answer 29

Interferon alfa (Intron A)

Question 30

Colony-Stimulating Factors

Answer 30

usually do not directly affect tumor cells, but encourage bone marrow stem cells to develop into red blood cells.

Question 31

Name two of these medications:

Answer 31

1. Epogen 2. Procrit

Question 32

What does exogenous mean?

Answer 32

Outside of body

Question 33

Name two MAB medications:

Answer 33

1. Bevacizumab (Avastin) 2. trastuzumab (Herceptin)

Question 34

One of the newer and largest groupings of targeted therapy drugs are called:

Answer 34

STIs

Question 35

There are two broad types of cancer vaccines:

Answer 35

1. preventive (or prophylactic) 2. treatment (or therapeutic)

Question 36

Name the agent that is administered by mouth to treat thyroid cancer.

Answer 36

Radioactive sodium iodine