ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy Immunotherapy
Certificate Exam Latest 2023-2024
Questions And Answers (Verified Answers)
Define mutations - ANSWER- Variations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene
3 main goals of treatment: - ANSWER- Cure
Control
Palliation
Define neoadjuvant therapy - ANSWER- Treatment is given prior to surgery to
shrink the tumor
Define adjuvant therapy - ANSWER- Additional cancer treatment given after the
primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer reoccur
Define conditioning/preparative therapy - ANSWER- Treatments used to prepare a
patient for stem cell transplantation
2 types of conditioning therapies: - ANSWER- Myeloablative
Nonmyeloablative
Define dose density - ANSWER- Drug dose per unit of time
Define dose intensity - ANSWER- Amount of drug delivered over time
How is relative dose intensity (RDI) calculated? - ANSWER- By comparing the
dose that the patient ACTUALLY received to the planned dose of the standard
regimen
How do alkylating agents work? - ANSWER- By causing a break in the DNA
helix strand, interfering with DNA replication and causing cell death
3 subcategories of alkylating agents: - ANSWER- 1. Nitrogen mustards
2. Platinum-based agents (do not possess an alkyl group but still termed alkylating
agents as they work similarly)
,3. Nitrosoureas
Most common subcategory of alkylating agents: - ANSWER- Nitrogen mustards
Common alkylating agents: - ANSWER- Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Ifosfamide (Ifex)
Bendamustine (Treanda)
Common platinum-based agents: - ANSWER- Cisplatin (Platinol)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
What is unique about nitrosoureas agents? - ANSWER- Able to cross the blood-
brain barrier; can be effective in treating some brain tumors
Common nitrosoureas agents: - ANSWER- Carmustine (BiCNU)
Lomustine (CeeNu)
Streptozocin (Zanosar)
Hypersensitivity can occur with late doses of: - ANSWER- Carboplatin
These agents are typically categorized as highly emetogenic: - ANSWER- 1.
Alkylating agents
2. Nitrosoureas
Pre-administration labs for alkylating agents and nitrosoureas: - ANSWER- BUN
Creatinine
CBC w/ diff
What is the medication Mesna used for? - ANSWER- Bladder protectant with
administration of cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide
Instruct pts receiving ________ to avoid exposure to cold air and consuming cold
fluids for 3-4 days following treatment - ANSWER- Oxaliplatin
How do antimetabolites function? - ANSWER- By blocking DNA and RNA
growth by interfering with enzymes needed for normal cell metabolism
Antimetabolites work in the ___ phase. - ANSWER- S
,What types of cells are best affected by antimetabolites? - ANSWER- Cells with
high division rates
Common side effects of antimetabolites: - ANSWER- Myelosuppression
GI toxicities
Photosensitivity
Hand-foot syndrome
Common antimetabolite drugs: - ANSWER- Azacitidine
Capecitabine
5-FU
Cytarabine
Decitabine
Methotrexate
The institute for Safe Medication Practices recommends what route of
administration for vincristine? - ANSWER- IV piggyback via gravity
Anthracycline antitumor abx work by: - ANSWER- Interfering with enzymes
necessary for DNA to replicate in ALL phases of the cell cycle
The two major classifications of antitumor antibiotics are: - ANSWER-
Anthracyclines
Non-anthracyclines
Common anthracycline antitumor abx: - ANSWER- Daunorubicin
Doxorubicin
Epirubicin
Idarubicin
The antitumor abx ___________ is not an anthracycline, but has anthracycline-
type properties. - ANSWER- Mitoxantrone
Common non-anthracycline antitumor abx: - ANSWER- Actinomycin D
Mitomycin C
Bleomycin
Monitoring necessary with doxorubicin: - ANSWER- Vesicant --> extravasation
Cardiac function
Lifetime dose tracking (cardiotoxicity)
, Lifetime dose of doxorubicin should not exceed: - ANSWER- 550 mg/m^2
What cardiac protectant medication can be administered prior to doxorubicin? -
ANSWER- Dexrazoxane
Significant side effects of doxorubicin are: - ANSWER- Cardiotoxicity
N/V
Mucositis
Diarrhea
Severe myelosuppression
Hepatic impairment
Secondary cancers
Monitoring necessary with bleomycin: - ANSWER- Pulmonary toxicity
Hypersensitivity reactions (esp. in lymphoma patients)
Cutaneous reactions
Lifetime dose tracking (pulmonary toxicity)
Pulmonary fibrosis is possible when the lifetime dose of bleomycin exceeds: -
ANSWER- 400 units
What 6 patient characteristics make CINV more likely? - ANSWER- 1. Younger
than 50 years
2. Hx of low alcohol intake
3. Female gender
4. Hx of morning sickness during pregnancy
5. Prone to motion sickness
6. Previous chemotherapy
Types of CINV: - ANSWER- Acute
Delayed
Breakthrough
Anticipatory
Refractory
Define acute CINV - ANSWER- Occurring within 24 hours of chemotherapy
Define delayed CINV - ANSWER- Occurring from 24 hours to 5 days after
treatment
Certificate Exam Latest 2023-2024
Questions And Answers (Verified Answers)
Define mutations - ANSWER- Variations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene
3 main goals of treatment: - ANSWER- Cure
Control
Palliation
Define neoadjuvant therapy - ANSWER- Treatment is given prior to surgery to
shrink the tumor
Define adjuvant therapy - ANSWER- Additional cancer treatment given after the
primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer reoccur
Define conditioning/preparative therapy - ANSWER- Treatments used to prepare a
patient for stem cell transplantation
2 types of conditioning therapies: - ANSWER- Myeloablative
Nonmyeloablative
Define dose density - ANSWER- Drug dose per unit of time
Define dose intensity - ANSWER- Amount of drug delivered over time
How is relative dose intensity (RDI) calculated? - ANSWER- By comparing the
dose that the patient ACTUALLY received to the planned dose of the standard
regimen
How do alkylating agents work? - ANSWER- By causing a break in the DNA
helix strand, interfering with DNA replication and causing cell death
3 subcategories of alkylating agents: - ANSWER- 1. Nitrogen mustards
2. Platinum-based agents (do not possess an alkyl group but still termed alkylating
agents as they work similarly)
,3. Nitrosoureas
Most common subcategory of alkylating agents: - ANSWER- Nitrogen mustards
Common alkylating agents: - ANSWER- Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Ifosfamide (Ifex)
Bendamustine (Treanda)
Common platinum-based agents: - ANSWER- Cisplatin (Platinol)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
What is unique about nitrosoureas agents? - ANSWER- Able to cross the blood-
brain barrier; can be effective in treating some brain tumors
Common nitrosoureas agents: - ANSWER- Carmustine (BiCNU)
Lomustine (CeeNu)
Streptozocin (Zanosar)
Hypersensitivity can occur with late doses of: - ANSWER- Carboplatin
These agents are typically categorized as highly emetogenic: - ANSWER- 1.
Alkylating agents
2. Nitrosoureas
Pre-administration labs for alkylating agents and nitrosoureas: - ANSWER- BUN
Creatinine
CBC w/ diff
What is the medication Mesna used for? - ANSWER- Bladder protectant with
administration of cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide
Instruct pts receiving ________ to avoid exposure to cold air and consuming cold
fluids for 3-4 days following treatment - ANSWER- Oxaliplatin
How do antimetabolites function? - ANSWER- By blocking DNA and RNA
growth by interfering with enzymes needed for normal cell metabolism
Antimetabolites work in the ___ phase. - ANSWER- S
,What types of cells are best affected by antimetabolites? - ANSWER- Cells with
high division rates
Common side effects of antimetabolites: - ANSWER- Myelosuppression
GI toxicities
Photosensitivity
Hand-foot syndrome
Common antimetabolite drugs: - ANSWER- Azacitidine
Capecitabine
5-FU
Cytarabine
Decitabine
Methotrexate
The institute for Safe Medication Practices recommends what route of
administration for vincristine? - ANSWER- IV piggyback via gravity
Anthracycline antitumor abx work by: - ANSWER- Interfering with enzymes
necessary for DNA to replicate in ALL phases of the cell cycle
The two major classifications of antitumor antibiotics are: - ANSWER-
Anthracyclines
Non-anthracyclines
Common anthracycline antitumor abx: - ANSWER- Daunorubicin
Doxorubicin
Epirubicin
Idarubicin
The antitumor abx ___________ is not an anthracycline, but has anthracycline-
type properties. - ANSWER- Mitoxantrone
Common non-anthracycline antitumor abx: - ANSWER- Actinomycin D
Mitomycin C
Bleomycin
Monitoring necessary with doxorubicin: - ANSWER- Vesicant --> extravasation
Cardiac function
Lifetime dose tracking (cardiotoxicity)
, Lifetime dose of doxorubicin should not exceed: - ANSWER- 550 mg/m^2
What cardiac protectant medication can be administered prior to doxorubicin? -
ANSWER- Dexrazoxane
Significant side effects of doxorubicin are: - ANSWER- Cardiotoxicity
N/V
Mucositis
Diarrhea
Severe myelosuppression
Hepatic impairment
Secondary cancers
Monitoring necessary with bleomycin: - ANSWER- Pulmonary toxicity
Hypersensitivity reactions (esp. in lymphoma patients)
Cutaneous reactions
Lifetime dose tracking (pulmonary toxicity)
Pulmonary fibrosis is possible when the lifetime dose of bleomycin exceeds: -
ANSWER- 400 units
What 6 patient characteristics make CINV more likely? - ANSWER- 1. Younger
than 50 years
2. Hx of low alcohol intake
3. Female gender
4. Hx of morning sickness during pregnancy
5. Prone to motion sickness
6. Previous chemotherapy
Types of CINV: - ANSWER- Acute
Delayed
Breakthrough
Anticipatory
Refractory
Define acute CINV - ANSWER- Occurring within 24 hours of chemotherapy
Define delayed CINV - ANSWER- Occurring from 24 hours to 5 days after
treatment
