Chemotherapy Agents Flashcards
Chemotherapy Agents
- cure and/or augment treatment of cancers
- increase survival rate and time
- oral, parenteral, IV, intracavitary, intrathecal routes
- combination of medications act on different phases of cell cycle:
i. increase effectiveness
ii. reduce medication resistance
Types of Chemotherapy Agents
1) Cytotoxic:
- antimetabolites
- antitumor antibiotics
- antimitotics
- alkylating
- topoisomerase inhibitors
- other antineoplastic
2) noncytotoxic:
- hormonal
- biologic response modifiers
- targeted antineoplastic medications
Cytotoxic Agents
1) toxic to cancer cells
2) kill fast-growing cancer cells AND healthy cells (skin, hair, intestinal mucosa, hematopoietic)
3) common adverse effects:
- nausea, vomiting
- myelosuppression
- alopecia
4) vesicants can cause severe damage if leaked into tissue
Antimetabolites
- kill cancer cells by interrupting specific phase of cell reproduction
1) folic acid analog: methotrexate (Rhematrex, Trexall) - choriocarcinoma
- solid tumors of breast, lung, head, neck
- acute lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
2) phrimidine analog: cytarabine (Cytosar-U) - acute myelogenous leukemia
- solid tumors (e.g. breast, colon)
3) purine analog: mercaptopurine (Purinethol) - acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute non-lymphocytic leukemia
Antimetabolites:
adverse effects
1) bone marrow suppression
- low WBC count (neutropenia)
- thromobycytopenia (bleeding)
- low platelet count (bleeding)
- low RBC count (anemia)
2) GI discomfort
- nausea, vomiting
Antimetabolites: contraindications
Methotrexate
1) pregnancy risk category X
2) psoriasis, liver failure, blood dyscrasias, immunodeficiency
3) may reduce digoxin and Dilantin levels
4) NSAIDs, salicylates, and sulfonamides may increase toxicities
5) food may decrease absorption. take on empty stomach
Antimetabolites: contraindications
Cytarabine
1) pregnancy risk category D
2) use with caution in clients who have liver disease
3) may reduce digoxin levels
Antimetabolites: contraindications
Mercaptopurine
1) pregnancy risk category D
2) contraindicated in clients resistant to medication
3) caution with concurrent use of other hepatotoxic medications
4) may reduce anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Antimetabolites: nursing interventions
1) monitor WBC, absolute neutrophil count, platelet count, hemoglobin, hematocrit
2) assess for bruising and bleeding gums
3) instruct clients to avoid crowds and contact with infectious individuals
4) administer antiemetic such as ondansetron in combination with dexamethasone, granisetron, or metoclopramide before beginning chemotherapy
5) encourage 2-3 L/day fluid intake
6) advise female clients to use birth control during treatment
7) monitor skin for jaundice
8) advice clients to monitor for dark urine and clay-colored stools
Antitumor Antibiotics
- kill cancer cells by stopping synthesis of RNA, DNA, or proteins
1) anthracyclines: doxorubicin (Adriamycin) - solid tumors (eg. lung, bone, stomach, breast)
- hodgkin’s and non-hodgkin’s lymphomas
2) nonanthracyclines: dactinomysin (Actinomycin D) - wilms’ tumor
- rhabdomyosarcoma
- choriocarcinoma
- ewing’s sarcoma
- kaposi’s sarcoma
Antitumor Antibiotics: Adverse Effects
1) bone marrow suppression
- low WBC count (neutropenia)
- thromobycytopenia (bleeding)
- low platelet count (bleeding)
- low RBC count (anemia)
2) GI discomfort
- nausea, vomiting
3) extravasations of vesicants
- can cause severe tissue damage
4) alopecia
5) acute cardiac toxicity, dysrhythmias
6) cardiomyopathy, heart failure
Antitumor Antibiotics: Contraindications
Doxorubicin
1) pregnancy risk category D
2) severe myelosuppression and lifetime cumulative dose of 550 mg/m2
3) increase cardiotoxicity with calcium channel blockers
4) may increase digoxin and Dilantin levels
5) phenobarbital may increase metabolism
Antitumor Antibiotics: Contraindications
Dactinomycin
1) pregnancy risk category D
2) active chicken pox or herpes zoster
Antitumor Antibiotics: nursing interventions
1) monitor for bleeding (bruising) or infection (fever, sore throat)
2) monitor CBC and liver enzymes
3) administer antiemetic for N&V
4) advise good oral hygiene and to avoid mouthwash with alcohol
5) hair loss may occur 7-10 days after beginning treatment and last about 2 months after last administration
6) select hairpiece prior to beginning chemo
7) stop medications immediately if extravasation occurs
Antimitotics
- kill cancer cells by inhibiting mitosis and preventing cell division
1) vinca alkaloids: vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar) - acute lymphocytic leukemia
- wilms’ tumor
- rhabdomyosarcoma
- solid tumors (eg. bladder and breast)
- hodgkin’s and non-hodgkin’s lymphomas
2) taxanes: paclitaxel (Taxol, Onxol) - ovarian
- non-small cell lung tumors
- kaposi’s sarcoma
Antimitotics: adverse effects
1) bone marrow suppression
- low WBC count (neutropenia)
- thromobycytopenia (bleeding)
- low platelet count (bleeding)
- low RBC count (anemia)
2) peripheral neuropathy
3) extravasations of vesicants
4) alopecia
5) bradycardia, heart block, MI
Antimitotics: contraindications
Vincristine
1) pregnancy risk category D
2) liver or neuromuscular disease
3) may reduce effect of digoxin and Dilantin
4) calcium channel blockers and asparaginase (Elspar) may increase accumulation of medication and increase toxicities
Antimitotics: contraindications
Paclitaxel
1) pregnancy risk category D
2) hypersensitivity to castor oil
3) neutrophil count < 1,500/mm3
4) cisplatin may increase myelosuppression if used concurrently
5) cyclosporine, dexamethasone, diazepam, verapamil, quinidine, and vincristine may slow clearance of medication
Antibiotics: nursing interventions
1) assess for indications of neuropathy:
- weakness
- numbness
- tingling
- foot drop
- ataxia
2) assess for breath sounds and bronchospasm
3) monitor carefully for hypersensitivity reaction
4) monitor for bleeding (bruising) or infection (fever, sore throat)
5) administer antiemetic for N&V
6) advise good mouth care
7) stop medication immediately if extravasation occurs
8) advise clients to use birth control during treatment
Alkylating Agents
- kill fast-growing cancer cells by altering DNA structure and preventing cell reproduction
1) nitrogen mustards: cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar) - acute lymphomas
- solid tumors (head, neck, breast)
- hodgkin’s and non-hodgkin’s lymphoma
2) nitrosoureas: carmustine (BiCNU) - brain tumors
- hodgkin’s and non-hodgkin’s lymphomas
- multiple myeloma
3) platinum compounds: cisplatin (Platinol-AQ) - bladder, testicular, ovarian cancers
Alkylating Agents: adverse reactions
1) bone marrow suppression
- low WBC count (neutropenia)
- thromobycytopenia (bleeding)
- low platelet count (bleeding)
- low RBC count (anemia)
2) GI discomfort
- nausea, vomiting
3) acute hemorrhagic cystitis
4) alopecia
5) pulmonary fibrosis
6) liver and kidney toxicities
7) reproductive toxicity
8) hearing loss