ONS Chemotherapy & Immunotherapy
Certificate Exam (2025/2026 Latest Update) |
Complete Study Guide & Verified Practice
Q&A PDF
3 major phases of cell division: - correct answerInterphase
Mitotic phase
Cytokinesis
3 steps of interphase: - correct answerFirst growth phase (G1)
Synthesis phase (S phase)
Second growth phase (G2)
4 phases of mitosis: - correct answerProphase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Innate immunity: - correct answerNon-specific response, either:
1. Barrier (skin, mucous membranes, flora of skin/gut)
2. Cellular components (phagocytes, natural killer cells, granulocytes, macrophages)
Adaptive immunity: - correct answerFollows 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 - correct answerVariations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene
3 main goals of treatment: - correct answerCure
Control
Palliation
Define neoadjuvant therapy - correct answerTreatment is given prior to surgery to shrink
the tumor
Define adjuvant therapy - correct answerAdditional cancer treatment given after the
primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer reoccur
,Define conditioning/preparative therapy - correct answerTreatments used to prepare a
patient for stem cell transplantation
2 types of conditioning therapies: - correct answerMyeloablative
Nonmyeloablative
Define dose density - correct answerDrug dose per unit of time
Define dose intensity - correct answerAmount of drug delivered over time
How is relative dose intensity (RDI) calculated? - correct answerBy comparing the dose
that the patient ACTUALLY received to the planned dose of the standard regimen
How do alkylating agents work? - correct answerBy causing a break in the DNA helix
strand, interfering with DNA replication and causing cell death
3 subcategories of alkylating agents: - correct answer1. 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: - correct answerNitrogen mustards
Common alkylating agents: - correct answerCyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Ifosfamide (Ifex)
Bendamustine (Treanda)
Common platinum-based agents: - correct answerCisplatin (Platinol)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
What is unique about nitrosoureas agents? - correct answerAble to cross the blood-
brain barrier; can be effective in treating some brain tumors
Common nitrosoureas agents: - correct answerCarmustine (BiCNU)
Lomustine (CeeNu)
Streptozocin (Zanosar)
Hypersensitivity can occur with late doses of: - correct answerCarboplatin
These agents are typically categorized as highly emetogenic: - correct answer1.
Alkylating agents
2. Nitrosoureas
Pre-administration labs for alkylating agents and nitrosoureas: - correct answerBUN
Creatinine
, CBC w/ diff
What is the medication Mesna used for? - correct answerBladder 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 - correct answerOxaliplatin
How do antimetabolites function? - correct answerBy blocking DNA and RNA growth by
interfering with enzymes needed for normal cell metabolism
Antimetabolites work in the ___ phase. - correct answerS
What types of cells are best affected by antimetabolites? - correct answerCells with high
division rates
Common side effects of antimetabolites: - correct answerMyelosuppression
GI toxicities
Photosensitivity
Hand-foot syndrome
Common antimetabolite drugs: - correct answerAzacitidine
Capecitabine
5-FU
Cytarabine
Decitabine
Methotrexate
The institute for Safe Medication Practices recommends what route of administration for
vincristine? - correct answerIV piggyback via gravity
Anthracycline antitumor abx work by: - correct answerInterfering with enzymes
necessary for DNA to replicate in ALL phases of the cell cycle
The two major classifications of antitumor antibiotics are: - correct
answerAnthracyclines
Non-anthracyclines
Common anthracycline antitumor abx: - correct answerDaunorubicin
Doxorubicin
Epirubicin
Idarubicin
The antitumor abx ___________ is not an anthracycline, but has anthracycline-type
properties. - correct answerMitoxantrone
Certificate Exam (2025/2026 Latest Update) |
Complete Study Guide & Verified Practice
Q&A PDF
3 major phases of cell division: - correct answerInterphase
Mitotic phase
Cytokinesis
3 steps of interphase: - correct answerFirst growth phase (G1)
Synthesis phase (S phase)
Second growth phase (G2)
4 phases of mitosis: - correct answerProphase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Innate immunity: - correct answerNon-specific response, either:
1. Barrier (skin, mucous membranes, flora of skin/gut)
2. Cellular components (phagocytes, natural killer cells, granulocytes, macrophages)
Adaptive immunity: - correct answerFollows 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 - correct answerVariations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene
3 main goals of treatment: - correct answerCure
Control
Palliation
Define neoadjuvant therapy - correct answerTreatment is given prior to surgery to shrink
the tumor
Define adjuvant therapy - correct answerAdditional cancer treatment given after the
primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer reoccur
,Define conditioning/preparative therapy - correct answerTreatments used to prepare a
patient for stem cell transplantation
2 types of conditioning therapies: - correct answerMyeloablative
Nonmyeloablative
Define dose density - correct answerDrug dose per unit of time
Define dose intensity - correct answerAmount of drug delivered over time
How is relative dose intensity (RDI) calculated? - correct answerBy comparing the dose
that the patient ACTUALLY received to the planned dose of the standard regimen
How do alkylating agents work? - correct answerBy causing a break in the DNA helix
strand, interfering with DNA replication and causing cell death
3 subcategories of alkylating agents: - correct answer1. 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: - correct answerNitrogen mustards
Common alkylating agents: - correct answerCyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Ifosfamide (Ifex)
Bendamustine (Treanda)
Common platinum-based agents: - correct answerCisplatin (Platinol)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
What is unique about nitrosoureas agents? - correct answerAble to cross the blood-
brain barrier; can be effective in treating some brain tumors
Common nitrosoureas agents: - correct answerCarmustine (BiCNU)
Lomustine (CeeNu)
Streptozocin (Zanosar)
Hypersensitivity can occur with late doses of: - correct answerCarboplatin
These agents are typically categorized as highly emetogenic: - correct answer1.
Alkylating agents
2. Nitrosoureas
Pre-administration labs for alkylating agents and nitrosoureas: - correct answerBUN
Creatinine
, CBC w/ diff
What is the medication Mesna used for? - correct answerBladder 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 - correct answerOxaliplatin
How do antimetabolites function? - correct answerBy blocking DNA and RNA growth by
interfering with enzymes needed for normal cell metabolism
Antimetabolites work in the ___ phase. - correct answerS
What types of cells are best affected by antimetabolites? - correct answerCells with high
division rates
Common side effects of antimetabolites: - correct answerMyelosuppression
GI toxicities
Photosensitivity
Hand-foot syndrome
Common antimetabolite drugs: - correct answerAzacitidine
Capecitabine
5-FU
Cytarabine
Decitabine
Methotrexate
The institute for Safe Medication Practices recommends what route of administration for
vincristine? - correct answerIV piggyback via gravity
Anthracycline antitumor abx work by: - correct answerInterfering with enzymes
necessary for DNA to replicate in ALL phases of the cell cycle
The two major classifications of antitumor antibiotics are: - correct
answerAnthracyclines
Non-anthracyclines
Common anthracycline antitumor abx: - correct answerDaunorubicin
Doxorubicin
Epirubicin
Idarubicin
The antitumor abx ___________ is not an anthracycline, but has anthracycline-type
properties. - correct answerMitoxantrone
