APHON OVERVIEW EXAM QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST 2025/2026
GRADED A+ | 100% CORRECT
immune surveillance - ANSWER tumor cells express abnormal tumor antigens
on the surface that can be recognized/destroyed by immune system
natural killer cells - ANSWER lymphocyte that recognizes/kills malignant
cells
cytotoxic t cells - ANSWER recognizes tumor-associated antigens and kills
cells
interferons - ANSWER multiple moa's & produced w/ recombinant DNA.
protein capable of protecting other cells from viral infections by interfering
w/ viral replication. family of glycoproteins include: antiviral,
antiproliferative, potent immunomodulatory effects
cytokines - ANSWER products of immune cells to enhance the cytotoxic
activity of cells and increase immune response
biotherapy - ANSWER modality of tx: agents that resemble the body's own
defence and surveillance systems. can augment/modulate/restore a host's
immune response, direct antitumor activity, and other biological effects. side
effects typically hypersensitivity rx
alpha-interferon - ANSWER leukocyte-derived. tx: hairy cell leukemia,
melanoma, chronic myeloid leukemia, follicular lymphoma, multiple myeloma,
cutaneous t-cell lymphoma
beta-interferon - ANSWER fibroblast-derived. tx MS
,gamma-interferon - ANSWER t-lymphocyte derived. tx chronic granulomatus
disease
interleukin-2 - ANSWER produced by t-helper cells & stimulate
growth/maturation of t-cell subsets, cytotoxic t-cells, production of
lymphokines & cytokines.
act as chemical signals b/w wbc's (revs up immune system)
retinoids - ANSWER immunomodulators that facilitate differentiation &
suppress proliferation of cancer cells
isotretinoin (accutane) - ANSWER retinoid tx neuroblastoma. have
antitumor activity unknown moa. TERATOGENIC. male/female pt must
register iPledge (fetal exposure). can also affect hearing & vision
antibodies - ANSWER proteins produced by b-lymphocytes. part of humoral
immunity of adaptive system. includes immunoglobulins (igG, igA, igM, igE,
igD)
murine - ANSWER mouse-derived MoAbs. pt develops human antimouse
antibodies creating high risk of hypersensitivity rx
end in -momab
Monoclonal antibodies - ANSWER very specific. directed against single
antigenic determinant on cell surface causing antibody-dependent cellular
toxicity, direct cell death, elimination of antigen/target cell that expresses the
antigen
low toxicity
all-trans retinoic acid (atra) - ANSWER tx: aml, aml m3 subtype, apl
increase maturation of promyelocytic blasts and rapid resolution of
coagulopathy r/t tx.
, -ximab - ANSWER moab combo of human & mouse antibodies
-zumab - ANSWER moab humanized, small part of mouse antibody fused w/
human antibody
-umab - ANSWER fully humanized moabs
chimeric moab - ANSWER murine variable & human constant coupled using
recombinant dna
rituximab - ANSWER tx relapsed/refractory b-cell lymphoma, cd20+, non-
hodgkins lymphoma (w/ chop), posttransplant lymphoproliferative d/o, &
chronic gvhd
rituximab moa - ANSWER act on CD20 antigen on surface of
normal/malignant b lymphocytes and works w/ immune system to induce b-cell
lysis
radiopharmaceuticals - ANSWER moabs that have radioactive source attached
for cancer killing effect
ibritumomab tiuxetan (zevalin) - ANSWER radiopharmaceutical tx
relapse/refractory low-grade follicular or transformed b-cell non-hodgkins
lymphoma
rituximab + ibritumomab tiuxetan - ANSWER target cd20 protein on b-cells.
given prior to high dose of radiation. causes increased toxicity and severe
infusion rx
tositumomab + iodine 131 tositumomab (bexxar) - ANSWER tx cd20+
follicular non-hodgkin's lymphoma. moa: recognizes marker and signals
immune response then radioactive source locks on to moab, delivers radiation
directly to cd20 marked cells and kills lymphoma b-cells
VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST 2025/2026
GRADED A+ | 100% CORRECT
immune surveillance - ANSWER tumor cells express abnormal tumor antigens
on the surface that can be recognized/destroyed by immune system
natural killer cells - ANSWER lymphocyte that recognizes/kills malignant
cells
cytotoxic t cells - ANSWER recognizes tumor-associated antigens and kills
cells
interferons - ANSWER multiple moa's & produced w/ recombinant DNA.
protein capable of protecting other cells from viral infections by interfering
w/ viral replication. family of glycoproteins include: antiviral,
antiproliferative, potent immunomodulatory effects
cytokines - ANSWER products of immune cells to enhance the cytotoxic
activity of cells and increase immune response
biotherapy - ANSWER modality of tx: agents that resemble the body's own
defence and surveillance systems. can augment/modulate/restore a host's
immune response, direct antitumor activity, and other biological effects. side
effects typically hypersensitivity rx
alpha-interferon - ANSWER leukocyte-derived. tx: hairy cell leukemia,
melanoma, chronic myeloid leukemia, follicular lymphoma, multiple myeloma,
cutaneous t-cell lymphoma
beta-interferon - ANSWER fibroblast-derived. tx MS
,gamma-interferon - ANSWER t-lymphocyte derived. tx chronic granulomatus
disease
interleukin-2 - ANSWER produced by t-helper cells & stimulate
growth/maturation of t-cell subsets, cytotoxic t-cells, production of
lymphokines & cytokines.
act as chemical signals b/w wbc's (revs up immune system)
retinoids - ANSWER immunomodulators that facilitate differentiation &
suppress proliferation of cancer cells
isotretinoin (accutane) - ANSWER retinoid tx neuroblastoma. have
antitumor activity unknown moa. TERATOGENIC. male/female pt must
register iPledge (fetal exposure). can also affect hearing & vision
antibodies - ANSWER proteins produced by b-lymphocytes. part of humoral
immunity of adaptive system. includes immunoglobulins (igG, igA, igM, igE,
igD)
murine - ANSWER mouse-derived MoAbs. pt develops human antimouse
antibodies creating high risk of hypersensitivity rx
end in -momab
Monoclonal antibodies - ANSWER very specific. directed against single
antigenic determinant on cell surface causing antibody-dependent cellular
toxicity, direct cell death, elimination of antigen/target cell that expresses the
antigen
low toxicity
all-trans retinoic acid (atra) - ANSWER tx: aml, aml m3 subtype, apl
increase maturation of promyelocytic blasts and rapid resolution of
coagulopathy r/t tx.
, -ximab - ANSWER moab combo of human & mouse antibodies
-zumab - ANSWER moab humanized, small part of mouse antibody fused w/
human antibody
-umab - ANSWER fully humanized moabs
chimeric moab - ANSWER murine variable & human constant coupled using
recombinant dna
rituximab - ANSWER tx relapsed/refractory b-cell lymphoma, cd20+, non-
hodgkins lymphoma (w/ chop), posttransplant lymphoproliferative d/o, &
chronic gvhd
rituximab moa - ANSWER act on CD20 antigen on surface of
normal/malignant b lymphocytes and works w/ immune system to induce b-cell
lysis
radiopharmaceuticals - ANSWER moabs that have radioactive source attached
for cancer killing effect
ibritumomab tiuxetan (zevalin) - ANSWER radiopharmaceutical tx
relapse/refractory low-grade follicular or transformed b-cell non-hodgkins
lymphoma
rituximab + ibritumomab tiuxetan - ANSWER target cd20 protein on b-cells.
given prior to high dose of radiation. causes increased toxicity and severe
infusion rx
tositumomab + iodine 131 tositumomab (bexxar) - ANSWER tx cd20+
follicular non-hodgkin's lymphoma. moa: recognizes marker and signals
immune response then radioactive source locks on to moab, delivers radiation
directly to cd20 marked cells and kills lymphoma b-cells
