ONS Chemotherapy Immunotherapy
Certificate Exam Questions With Verified
Answers
3 major phases of cell division: - answer✔Interphase
Mitotic phase
Cytokinesis
3 steps of interphase: - answer✔First growth phase (G1)
Synthesis phase (S phase)
Second growth phase (G2)
4 phases of mitosis: - answer✔Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Innate immunity: - answer✔Non-specific response, either:
1. Barrier (skin, mucous membranes, flora of skin/gut)
2. Cellular components (phagocytes, natural killer cells, granulocytes, macrophages)
Adaptive immunity: - answer✔Follows innate immunity if unsuccessful. Memory immunity,
including:
1. Humoral immunity (production of antibodies or immunoglobulins)
2. Cell mediated immunity (dependent upon T cells)
3. Regulatory T -cells (prevent autoimmune reactions and limit inflammatory responses)
Define mutations - answer✔Variations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene
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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
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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