Anticancer Drugs

WHAT TYPE OF ANTINEOPLASTIC:

Prevent or suppress carcinogenesis (cancer formation) in people highly susceptible to certain cancers.

• Chemoprevention

• Cure

• Control

• Palliation

WHAT TYPE OF ANTINEOPLASTIC:

Destroys all cancer cells to get people into remission.

The goal is to get them to a normal life expectancy.

• Chemoprevention

• Cure

• Control

• Palliation

WHAT TYPE OF ANTINEOPLASTIC:

Prevent or slow growth of tumor.

This will NOT cure, but it may give the patient prolonged time until the cancer catches up.

• Chemoprevention

• Cure

• Control

• Palliation

WHAT TYPE OF ANTINEOPLASTIC:

Management of symptoms (like pain control).

These drugs increase quality of life (sometimes end-of-life management)

• Chemoprevention

• Cure

• Control

• Palliation

Chemo-medications have cytotoxic agents that will still have ACTIVE metabolites in their eliminated waste (urine and feces).

Patient's can still use the bathroom but they should double flush with the toilet lid down.

• True

• False

Protective measures are required for ___ hours following cytotoxic agent administration.

• 48

• 72

• 24

• 96

What are the three Anticancer/Antineoplastic Drug classes?

• Cytotoxic Drugs

• Hormonal Drugs

• Targeted Drugs

• Sulferonamide Drugs

Answer explanation

*Cytotoxic drugs act directly on cells to cause cell death.

*Hormonal drugs are used after surgery to reduce recurrence.

*Targeted drugs are biological response modifiers that are more expensive.

Cytotoxic Drugs have a lot of Adverse Toxicity Effects. What are things to consider when administering that would help the patient in their fight against cancer?

• Intermittent dosing allows normal cells to repopulate

• Combination therapy provides effectiveness with less toxicity

• High doses of a single drug will provide the best effectiveness

• Prescribing Filgrastin to increase WBC to avoid nadir

Match the following Cytotoxic drugs (they act directly on the cells to cause cell death):

• Anti-tumor Antibiotics

  (inserts into DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II)

• 5-flurouracil (Pyrimidine Analogue)

• Topoisomerase Inhibitor

  (inhibits Topoisomerase to stop DNA replication & repair)

• Doxorubicin

• Mitotic Inhibitor

  (inhibit microtubules that move chromosomes during cell division)

• Etoposide

• Alkaline Agent

  (change DNA binding structure)

• Cyclophosphamide

• Antimetabolite (resemble natural nucleotides to interfere with DNA synthesis)

• Vincristine or Paclitaxel

Which 2 cytotoxic drugs must you monitor closely when using in combination to treat breast cancer?

Hint: one turns bodily fluids red naturally & one causes hemorrhagic cystitis (bleeding of the bladder)

• Cyclophosphamide & Doxorubicin

• Paclitaxel & Cisplatin

• Vincristine & Etoposide

• 5-flurouracil & Cyclophosphamide

Answer explanation

Cyclophosphamide can cause hemorrhagic cystitis. Doxorubicin can naturally cause bodily fluids to be red. We want to make sure that the patient just has red fluids and isn't actually bleeding in their bladder.