Oncology Flashcards
When preparing, administering, or disposing of chemotherapeutics, or when cleaning up waste from patients that have received chemo, what PPE is recommended?
- Chemotherapy rated double gloving
- Long sleeved, coated impermeable gowns with back closure
- Eye/face shield
- Shoe and hair coverings to maintain sterility (if needed)
- Respirator if there is potential for aerosolization
Animals receiving chemo at home should not be allowed to urinate/defecate in community areas, areas where children may be exposed, or areas that are difficult to clean for how many hours after administration?
48 hours
What is the mechanism of action of alkylating agents?
- Bind to DNA strands and insert an alkyl group, which creates cross links in DNA => strand breaks
- Act in all phases of the cell cycle
Name 5 alkylating agents
- Cyclophosphamide
- Chlorambucil
- Melphalan
- Lomustine (CCNU)
- Mustargen
- Procarbazine
- Dacarbazine
What is the mechanism of action of mitotic inhibitors? Name 3
- Inhibit the assembly (vinca alkaloids) or disassembly (paclitaxel) of the mitotic spindle - arrest cell division in metaphase
- Vincristine, vinblastine, vinorelbine
What is the mechanism of action of platinum compounds? Name 2
- Create cross links in DNA (like alkylating agents)
- Cisplatin, carboplatin
Why is cisplatin fatal when given to cats?
Causes pulmonary edema
What is metronomic chemotherapy?
Uses small doses of chemotherapy drugs frequently (daily or EOD) rather than conventional chemotherapy, which uses maximum tolerated doses at intervals of weeks
What is the mechanism of action of metronomic chemotherapy?
- Anti-angiogenic (targets tumor endothelial cells)
- Immunomodulatory (inhibits Tregs)
- NOT cytotoxic, like conventional chemo
After giving chemotherapy, the patient’s neutrophil count should be checked at the expected nadir or before the next dose of myelosuppressive chemotherapy. If the neutrophil count is <1,000, what should be done?
Patient is afebrile, healthy
- Consider prophylactic antibiotics at home
- Reduce future dose by 25%
Patient is febrile or sick
- Hospitalize for IV antibiotics, fluids - treat for sepsis
If the neutrophil count is 1,000-3,000, what should be done?
Delay scheduled chemotherapy until the neutrophil count is >3,000. Recheck CBC in 3-7 days
One common mechanism of tumor resistance to chemotherapy is the P-glycoprotein transmembrane pump, which can efflux chemo out of the tumor cells. What chemo drugs are NOT substrates for this pump and will still be effective?
Alkylating agents - mainstay of treatment for patients with this type of resistance
What oral chemotherapy drug is used for the treatment of multiple myeloma?
Melphalan
If vincristine is given outside of the vein, what should be done?
Dilute and WARM compress
What is the mechanism of action of doxorubicin and mitoxantrone?
Inhibit topoisomerase II => inhibition of DNA synthesis
S phase specific
If doxorubicin is given outside of the vein, what should be done?
COLD compress
What chemotherapeutic can cause a red color in the urine up to 2 days post-administration?
Doxorubicin
What chemotherapy drug can cause anaphylaxis within 30 minutes of administration and the patient should be pretreated with dexamethasone and/or Benadryl?
L-asparaginase
Name 3 chemotherapeutics that cross the blood brain barrier
CCNU, procarbazine, cytarabine
What drug can be given to reduce cardiotoxicty from doxorubicin? How does it work?
Dexrazocane (Zinecard)
What is the mechanism of action of L-asparaginase?
Catalyzes the conversion of L-asparagine to aspartic acid and ammonia. This deprives myeloproiferative cells of circulating asparagine because they cannot synthesize it on their own, which leads to cell death
What detoxification system is upregulated by many cancer cells to remove chemotherapeutic drugs?
Glutathione system
What is multidrug resistance-related protein?
Protein that excretes detoxified products of the glutathione system - unregulated in some cancer cells