1
ONS CHEMOTHERAPY IMMUNOTHERAPY
CERTIFICATE EXAM WITH ACTUAL STUDY
GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026-27
LATEST VERSION
Define neoadjuvant therapy
Treatment is given prior to surgery to shrink the tumor
Define adjuvant therapy
Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk
that the cancer reoccur
Define conditioning/preparative therapy
Treatments used to prepare a patient for stem cell transplantation
2 types of conditioning therapies:
Myeloablative
Nonmyeloablative
,2
Define dose density
Drug dose per unit of time
Define dose intensity
Amount of drug delivered over time
How is relative dose intensity (RDI) calculated?
By comparing the dose that the patient ACTUALLY received to the planned
dose of the standard regimen
How do alkylating agents work?
By causing a break in the DNA helix strand, interfering with DNA replication and
causing cell death
3 subcategories of alkylating agents:
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:
Nitrogen mustards
Common alkylating
agents: Cyclophosphamide
(Cytoxan) Ifosfamide (Ifex)
Bendamustine (Treanda)
, 3
Common platinum-based agents:
Cisplatin (Platinol)
Carboplatin
(Paraplatin)
What is unique about nitrosoureas agents?
Able to cross the blood-brain barrier; can be effective in treating some brain
tumors
Common nitrosoureas agents:
Carmustine (BiCNU)
Lomustine (CeeNu)
Streptozocin (Zanosar)
Hypersensitivity can occur with late doses of:
Carboplatin
These agents are typically categorized as highly emetogenic:
1. Alkylating agents
2. Nitrosoureas
Pre-administration labs for alkylating agents and
nitrosoureas: BUN
Creatinine
CBC w/ diff
What is the medication Mesna used for?
ONS CHEMOTHERAPY IMMUNOTHERAPY
CERTIFICATE EXAM WITH ACTUAL STUDY
GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026-27
LATEST VERSION
Define neoadjuvant therapy
Treatment is given prior to surgery to shrink the tumor
Define adjuvant therapy
Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk
that the cancer reoccur
Define conditioning/preparative therapy
Treatments used to prepare a patient for stem cell transplantation
2 types of conditioning therapies:
Myeloablative
Nonmyeloablative
,2
Define dose density
Drug dose per unit of time
Define dose intensity
Amount of drug delivered over time
How is relative dose intensity (RDI) calculated?
By comparing the dose that the patient ACTUALLY received to the planned
dose of the standard regimen
How do alkylating agents work?
By causing a break in the DNA helix strand, interfering with DNA replication and
causing cell death
3 subcategories of alkylating agents:
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:
Nitrogen mustards
Common alkylating
agents: Cyclophosphamide
(Cytoxan) Ifosfamide (Ifex)
Bendamustine (Treanda)
, 3
Common platinum-based agents:
Cisplatin (Platinol)
Carboplatin
(Paraplatin)
What is unique about nitrosoureas agents?
Able to cross the blood-brain barrier; can be effective in treating some brain
tumors
Common nitrosoureas agents:
Carmustine (BiCNU)
Lomustine (CeeNu)
Streptozocin (Zanosar)
Hypersensitivity can occur with late doses of:
Carboplatin
These agents are typically categorized as highly emetogenic:
1. Alkylating agents
2. Nitrosoureas
Pre-administration labs for alkylating agents and
nitrosoureas: BUN
Creatinine
CBC w/ diff
What is the medication Mesna used for?
