Question 1

Why are cytotoxic medications administered in cycles with periods of no administration in between?

Accepted Answer

A) To allow a patient's system to accumulate the effect of cytotoxic medication over subsequent administrations 
B) Because cytotoxic agents also destroy noncancerous cells,and the body needs time to recuperate lost cells to avoid or decrease potential adverse effects 
C) To allow the cytotoxic agent more careful selection of the targeted cancerous cells,which increases its effect 
D) To allow the patient a rest period in which to take noncytotoxic agents that may otherwise have cross-reactions 
A) To allow a patient's system to accumulate the effect of cytotoxic medication over subsequent administrations 
B) Because cytotoxic agents also destroy noncancerous cells,and the body needs time to recuperate lost cells to avoid or decrease potential adverse effects 
C) To allow the cytotoxic agent more careful selection of the targeted cancerous cells,which increases its effect 
D) To allow the patient a rest period in which to take noncytotoxic agents that may otherwise have cross-reactions B

Question 2

Why do patients most commonly experience adverse effects from hematological,gastrointestinal,and integumentary system cancers?

Accepted Answer

A) The most rapidly dividing and multiplying cells are found within these systems. 
B) The cells in these systems have the greatest number of surface antigens. 
C) The cells in these systems are more likely to undergo mutations. 
D) The most mature cells are found within these systems. 
A) The most rapidly dividing and multiplying cells are found within these systems. 
B) The cells in these systems have the greatest number of surface antigens. 
C) The cells in these systems are more likely to undergo mutations. 
D) The most mature cells are found within these systems. A

Question 3

Some naturally occurring chemotherapeutic agents stimulate and enhance the patient's immune system.Which agents are designated by the suffix "-mab"?

Accepted Answer

A) Those originating from herbal suspensions 
B) Those originating from murine cells 
C) Those originating from equine cells 
D) Those originating from human antibodies 
A) Those originating from herbal suspensions 
B) Those originating from murine cells 
C) Those originating from equine cells 
D) Those originating from human antibodies D

Question 4

In general,for fast-dividing human cells,what is the approximate cell cycle time?

Accepted Answer

A) 24 hours 
B) 1 year 
C) 8 minutes 
D) 6 hours 
A) 24 hours 
B) 1 year 
C) 8 minutes 
D) 6 hours

Question 5

In essence,chemotherapy and antineoplastic therapy can both be characterized as therapy designed to:

Accepted Answer

A) Harm or kill living cells,whether targeted or not. 
B) Use chemicals to harm malignant cells. 
C) Stop the spread of cancer. 
D) Seek and destroy malignancies. 
A) Harm or kill living cells,whether targeted or not. 
B) Use chemicals to harm malignant cells. 
C) Stop the spread of cancer. 
D) Seek and destroy malignancies.

Question 6

The vinca alkaloids derive their cytotoxic effect by inhibiting tubulin.Which agent within this class of drugs prevents the breakdown of the microtubules during mitosis,causing clogging and the inability of cancer cells to grow and divide?

Accepted Answer

A) vinblastine (Velbane) 
B) vincristine (Oncovin) 
C) vinorelbine (Navelbine) 
D) paclitaxel (Taxol) 
A) vinblastine (Velbane) 
B) vincristine (Oncovin) 
C) vinorelbine (Navelbine) 
D) paclitaxel (Taxol)

Question 7

The prescription of cytotoxic medications commonly follows strict clinical protocols that have been shown to be effective for a particular cancer through experience.Which of the following is not a suggested protocol?

Accepted Answer

A) Dosing by body surface area 
B) Dosing by age 
C) Determining length of treatment by the cell-kill theory 
D) Dosing in cycles 
A) Dosing by body surface area 
B) Dosing by age 
C) Determining length of treatment by the cell-kill theory 
D) Dosing in cycles

Question 8

Patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia can suffer serious and potentially life-threatening blood loss.What patient education point would least likely help a patient avoid such an event?

Accepted Answer

A) Postpone invasive dental procedures 
B) Encourage the patient to use stool softeners 
C) Eat a high-fiber diet 
D) Limit exposure to the sun 
A) Postpone invasive dental procedures 
B) Encourage the patient to use stool softeners 
C) Eat a high-fiber diet 
D) Limit exposure to the sun

Question 9

Antimetabolite cancer agents interfere with DNA and RNA formation.They are chemicals that inhibit the normal use of a metabolite by cells during the cell cycle.During what portion of the cell cycle are antimetabolites most effective?

Accepted Answer

A) Prophase 
B) S phase 
C) M phase 
D) G1 phase 
A) Prophase 
B) S phase 
C) M phase 
D) G1 phase

Question 10

Approximately 70% to 80% of patients receiving cytotoxic drugs (chemotherapy)have some degree of nausea and vomiting,which can be very distressful and can limit function.Which agent is useful in combating this nausea?

Accepted Answer

A) rituximab (Rituxan) 
B) ondansetron (Zofran) 
C) interferon 
D) goserelin (Zoladex) 
A) rituximab (Rituxan) 
B) ondansetron (Zofran) 
C) interferon 
D) goserelin (Zoladex)

Question 11

A cancer patient being treated with cell cycle-specific chemotherapeutic agents develops a neutropenic fever.Which intervention is not an effective strategy for the management of this fever?

Accepted Answer

A) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration immediately following chemotherapy 
B) Administration of a broad-spectrum antibiotic 
C) Administration of colony-stimulating factors 
D) Growth factor administration 26 hours following chemotherapy 
A) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration immediately following chemotherapy 
B) Administration of a broad-spectrum antibiotic 
C) Administration of colony-stimulating factors 
D) Growth factor administration 26 hours following chemotherapy

Question 12

Which item is not a prognostic factor for cancer treatment?

Accepted Answer

A) Cancer type 
B) Cancer stage at the time of diagnosis 
C) Presence of histological markers 
D) Early detection 
A) Cancer type 
B) Cancer stage at the time of diagnosis 
C) Presence of histological markers 
D) Early detection

Question 13

Risk factors are an important player in cancer cases and one or more can be found relevant in what percentage of cases?

Accepted Answer

A) 95% 
B) 75% 
C) 50% 
D) 35% 
A) 95% 
B) 75% 
C) 50% 
D) 35%

Question 14

The main effects of myelosuppression are anemia,leukopenia,and thrombocytopenia.Following chemotherapy,the rate at which a patient develops one or all of these sequelae depend on the nadir.At what point in time is a patient most likely to develop anemia?

Accepted Answer

A) Within 3 hours of chemotherapy administration 
B) Within 10 days of chemotherapy administration 
C) Within 35 days of chemotherapy administration 
D) Within 15 weeks of chemotherapy administration 
A) Within 3 hours of chemotherapy administration 
B) Within 10 days of chemotherapy administration 
C) Within 35 days of chemotherapy administration 
D) Within 15 weeks of chemotherapy administration

Question 15

Amifostine (Ethyol)is a cytoprotective agent used to reduce potential renal toxicity associated with cumulative doses of cisplatin (Platinol).To which class of chemotherapeutic agents does it belong?

Accepted Answer

A) Cytoprotective agents 
B) Biologic response modifiers 
C) Vinca alkaloids 
D) Antitumor antibodies 
A) Cytoprotective agents 
B) Biologic response modifiers 
C) Vinca alkaloids 
D) Antitumor antibodies

Question 16

A patient is about to begin chemotherapy for a small cell lung tumor.The tumor is theorized to have 1,000,000 cells.If the tumor is exposed to a drug that has an 80% cell kill rate,the first chemotherapy dose will kill 80%,or 800,000,of the targeted cancer cells.The second dose will kill another 80% of the remaining cancer cells.What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

A) The cell cycle 
B) Leukemogenicity 
C) The cell kill theory 
D) Growth fraction 
A) The cell cycle 
B) Leukemogenicity 
C) The cell kill theory 
D) Growth fraction

Question 17

Some chemotherapy is especially effective if administered directly into the affected organ.It may be introduced and remain or drained after several hours.For which type of cancer is an intraperitoneal route of administration highly effective?

Accepted Answer

A) Bladder cancer 
B) Ovarian cancer that has spread to the peritoneum 
C) Lung cancer that has spread to the pleura 
D) Mesothelioma 
A) Bladder cancer 
B) Ovarian cancer that has spread to the peritoneum 
C) Lung cancer that has spread to the pleura 
D) Mesothelioma

Question 18

Several chemotherapeutic agents are considered cell-cycle nonspecific.Which agent interferes with DNA replication to prevent cells from reproducing but commonly produces major hematopoietic,gastrointestinal,and reproductive system toxicities?

Accepted Answer

A) chlorambucil (Leukeran) 
B) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 
C) procarbazine (Matulane) 
D) trastuzumab (Herceptin) 
A) chlorambucil (Leukeran) 
B) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 
C) procarbazine (Matulane) 
D) trastuzumab (Herceptin)

Question 19

A cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy has questions about hair loss.Which statement should you make to him?

Accepted Answer

A) "Alopecia happens to everyone undergoing chemotherapy." 
B) "Loss of eyebrows,eyelashes,pubic hair,and body hair is usually more severe because the growth is more active in these hair follicles than in the scalp." 
C) "The extent of hair loss depends on which drugs are given,drug doses,and the length of treatment." 
D) "Hair loss is permanent." 
A) "Alopecia happens to everyone undergoing chemotherapy." 
B) "Loss of eyebrows,eyelashes,pubic hair,and body hair is usually more severe because the growth is more active in these hair follicles than in the scalp." 
C) "The extent of hair loss depends on which drugs are given,drug doses,and the length of treatment." 
D) "Hair loss is permanent."

Question 20

Administration of a cytotoxic agent commonly utilizes the IV route.Which vascular access device is the equipment of choice for an intermediate-length chemotherapeutic when a regular IV is not advisable?

Accepted Answer

A) Peripherally inserted central catheter (PIC
C)  
B) Heparin lock 
C) Tunneled central venous catheter 
D) Midline catheter 
A) Peripherally inserted central catheter (PIC
C)  
B) Heparin lock 
C) Tunneled central venous catheter 
D) Midline catheter

Exam 19: Drugs Used in the Treatment of Neoplasms

Why are cytotoxic medications administered in cycles with periods of no administration in between?

Why do patients most commonly experience adverse effects from hematological,gastrointestinal,and integumentary system cancers?

Some naturally occurring chemotherapeutic agents stimulate and enhance the patient's immune system.Which agents are designated by the suffix "-mab"?

In general,for fast-dividing human cells,what is the approximate cell cycle time?

In essence,chemotherapy and antineoplastic therapy can both be characterized as therapy designed to:

The vinca alkaloids derive their cytotoxic effect by inhibiting tubulin.Which agent within this class of drugs prevents the breakdown of the microtubules during mitosis,causing clogging and the inability of cancer cells to grow and divide?

The prescription of cytotoxic medications commonly follows strict clinical protocols that have been shown to be effective for a particular cancer through experience.Which of the following is not a suggested protocol?

Patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia can suffer serious and potentially life-threatening blood loss.What patient education point would least likely help a patient avoid such an event?

Antimetabolite cancer agents interfere with DNA and RNA formation.They are chemicals that inhibit the normal use of a metabolite by cells during the cell cycle.During what portion of the cell cycle are antimetabolites most effective?

Approximately 70% to 80% of patients receiving cytotoxic drugs (chemotherapy)have some degree of nausea and vomiting,which can be very distressful and can limit function.Which agent is useful in combating this nausea?

A cancer patient being treated with cell cycle-specific chemotherapeutic agents develops a neutropenic fever.Which intervention is not an effective strategy for the management of this fever?

Which item is not a prognostic factor for cancer treatment?

Risk factors are an important player in cancer cases and one or more can be found relevant in what percentage of cases?

The main effects of myelosuppression are anemia,leukopenia,and thrombocytopenia.Following chemotherapy,the rate at which a patient develops one or all of these sequelae depend on the nadir.At what point in time is a patient most likely to develop anemia?

Amifostine (Ethyol)is a cytoprotective agent used to reduce potential renal toxicity associated with cumulative doses of cisplatin (Platinol).To which class of chemotherapeutic agents does it belong?

Some chemotherapy is especially effective if administered directly into the affected organ.It may be introduced and remain or drained after several hours.For which type of cancer is an intraperitoneal route of administration highly effective?

Several chemotherapeutic agents are considered cell-cycle nonspecific.Which agent interferes with DNA replication to prevent cells from reproducing but commonly produces major hematopoietic,gastrointestinal,and reproductive system toxicities?

A cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy has questions about hair loss.Which statement should you make to him?

Administration of a cytotoxic agent commonly utilizes the IV route.Which vascular access device is the equipment of choice for an intermediate-length chemotherapeutic when a regular IV is not advisable?

Conscientious and Rational Prescribing in the 21st Century

An Introduction to Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics

Communicating With Patients About Medications: a Patient-Centered Approach

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Bone and Joint Disorders

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Eye and Ear Disorders

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disorders

Drugs Used to Regulate Blood Pressure

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Hyperlipidemias

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Blood Disorders

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Common Disorders of the Gastrointestinal System

Drugs Used to Treat Endocrine Gland Disorders

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

Drugs Used to Treat Common Neurological Conditions

Practical Pharmacotherapy of Drugs Used to Treat Psychiatric Disorders

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Skin Disorders

Modern Approaches to Managing Bacterial Infections

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Nonbacterial Infections

Drugs Used to Affect Womens Health

Drugs Used to Affect Mens Health

Prescribing for the Geriatric Patient

Prescribing for the Pediatric Patient

Drugs Used to Manage Pain

The Integrative Medicine Pharmacopoeia: Herbals, vitamins, and Dietary Supplements

Agents Used to Manipulate the Immune Response

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