ONS Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Study Guide Questions/Answer Graded
A+ 2025/2026
Adaptive immunity: - 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 - Variations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene
3 main goals of treatment: - Cure
Control
Palliation
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
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)
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? - 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 - Oxaliplatin
How do antimetabolites function? - By blocking DNA and RNA growth by interfering with
enzymes needed for normal cell metabolism
Antimetabolites work in the ___ phase. - S
What types of cells are best affected by antimetabolites? - Cells with high division rates
Common side effects of antimetabolites: - Myelosuppression
GI toxicities
Photosensitivity
Hand-foot syndrome
Common antimetabolite drugs: - Azacitidine
Capecitabine
5-FU
Cytarabine
Decitabine
Methotrexate
The institute for Safe Medication Practices recommends what route of administration for
vincristine? - IV piggyback via gravity
Anthracycline antitumor abx work by: - Interfering with enzymes necessary for DNA to replicate
in ALL phases of the cell cycle
A+ 2025/2026
Adaptive immunity: - 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 - Variations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene
3 main goals of treatment: - Cure
Control
Palliation
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
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)
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? - 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 - Oxaliplatin
How do antimetabolites function? - By blocking DNA and RNA growth by interfering with
enzymes needed for normal cell metabolism
Antimetabolites work in the ___ phase. - S
What types of cells are best affected by antimetabolites? - Cells with high division rates
Common side effects of antimetabolites: - Myelosuppression
GI toxicities
Photosensitivity
Hand-foot syndrome
Common antimetabolite drugs: - Azacitidine
Capecitabine
5-FU
Cytarabine
Decitabine
Methotrexate
The institute for Safe Medication Practices recommends what route of administration for
vincristine? - IV piggyback via gravity
Anthracycline antitumor abx work by: - Interfering with enzymes necessary for DNA to replicate
in ALL phases of the cell cycle
