ONS Chapter 29: Biotherapy, Immunotherapy & Targeted Therapies
1. Before placing a patient on treatment for colon cancer, the oncologist asks about the results of KRAS
and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) testing. The nurse responds with the understanding that
which one of the following is true about testing? A. KRAS and EGFR testing is necessary prior to
beginning therapy for those most likely to benefit from treatment in some cancer types
B. KRAS and EGFR testing is a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-an approved test used
prior to starting targeted treatment for all types of cancers
C. KRAS and EGFR testing is designed to be paired with a specific drug, but does not have to be FDA
approved
D. KRAS and EGFR testing can only test one bio-marker at a time and generally does not improve
outcomes - (correct Answer) - A. KRAS and EGFR testing is necessary prior to beginning therapy for those
most likely to benefit from treatment in some cancer types
2. H.L. is a 60-year-old patient with cancer. She expresses to her oncology nurse that she is concerned
about beginning treatment with Crizotinib, worrying that the drug will not be effective. The oncology
nurse explains which one of the following is true about Crizotinib?
A. "Crizotinib is an oral chemotherapy medication that will directly kill your cancer cells."
B."Crizotinib acts to block defective genes that caused your cancer."
C."Crizotinib works by replacing the defective genes identified in your cancer with genes that are
healthy."
D."Crizotinib works quickly and has fewer side effects than chemotherapy." - (correct Answer) -
B."Crizotinib acts to block defective genes that caused your cancer."
3. It is important to assess and monitor blood pressure levels in a patient being placed on bevacizumab
because which one of the following statements is true about hypertension?
A. Hypertension will result in seizures
B. Hypertension can be the first sign of cardiomyopathy
C. Hypertension is a common problem with this drug that can be managed
D. Hypertension is most likely to occur in patients without risk factors - (correct Answer) - C.
Hypertension is a common problem with this drug that can be managed
4. Targeted therapies work in several ways to stop cancer growth. Which one of the following is a way
that targeted therapies work?
A. deregulating cell signaling pathways
B. oncogene activation
, C. inhibiting excessive growth factors
D. blocking apoptosis - (correct Answer) - C. inhibiting excessive growth factors
5. J.R. is a 60-year-old male patient with cancer who is receiving a treatment of gemtuzumab ozogamicin.
Which one of the following statements is true regarding this agent?
A. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a conjugated monoclonal antibody that is chemically linked to a
chemotherapy agent
B. Gemtuzumabozogamicin is an unconjugated monoclonal antibody that is linked to a radioisotope
C. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a chimeric conjugated monoclonal antibody linked to a chemotherapy
agent
D. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a conjugated monoclonal antibody that has several antigens as targets -
(correct Answer) - A. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a conjugated monoclonal antibody that is chemically
linked to a chemotherapy agent
chimeric antibodies: "ximab"
humanized antibodies "zumab"
6. An oncology nurse's patient is being placed on a monoclonal antibody in addition to chemotherapy.
The patient is wondering why she needs both types of treatment. The oncology nurse caring for her
replies that the monoclonal antibody:
A. results in immediate cell death while chemotherapy blocks intracellular signaling.
B. flags cancer cells for destruction by the immune system and chemotherapy initiates the complement
cascade.
C. targets primarily the nucleus of the cancer cell to stop proliferation.
D. targets a specific protein that is driving the growth of the cancer. - (correct Answer) - D. targets a
specific protein that is driving the growth of the cancer.
7. S. J. is a 44-year-old female patient with cancer with a known BRCA mutation. She is being treated
with olaparib. The oncology nurse caring for her is teaching her about her disease. As part of her
teaching, the nurse most likely explains which one of the following?
A. Genetically mutated ovarian cancer cells are sensitive to poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP)inhibition.
B. PARP inhibitors repair damaged DNA single-strand breaks.
C. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors are used in the treatment of estrogen receptor-negative breast
cancers.
D. Proteasome inhibitors are effective in the treatment of BRCA-mutated breast cancer. - (correct
Answer) - A. Genetically mutated ovarian cancer cells are sensitive to poly-ADP ribose polymerase
1. Before placing a patient on treatment for colon cancer, the oncologist asks about the results of KRAS
and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) testing. The nurse responds with the understanding that
which one of the following is true about testing? A. KRAS and EGFR testing is necessary prior to
beginning therapy for those most likely to benefit from treatment in some cancer types
B. KRAS and EGFR testing is a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-an approved test used
prior to starting targeted treatment for all types of cancers
C. KRAS and EGFR testing is designed to be paired with a specific drug, but does not have to be FDA
approved
D. KRAS and EGFR testing can only test one bio-marker at a time and generally does not improve
outcomes - (correct Answer) - A. KRAS and EGFR testing is necessary prior to beginning therapy for those
most likely to benefit from treatment in some cancer types
2. H.L. is a 60-year-old patient with cancer. She expresses to her oncology nurse that she is concerned
about beginning treatment with Crizotinib, worrying that the drug will not be effective. The oncology
nurse explains which one of the following is true about Crizotinib?
A. "Crizotinib is an oral chemotherapy medication that will directly kill your cancer cells."
B."Crizotinib acts to block defective genes that caused your cancer."
C."Crizotinib works by replacing the defective genes identified in your cancer with genes that are
healthy."
D."Crizotinib works quickly and has fewer side effects than chemotherapy." - (correct Answer) -
B."Crizotinib acts to block defective genes that caused your cancer."
3. It is important to assess and monitor blood pressure levels in a patient being placed on bevacizumab
because which one of the following statements is true about hypertension?
A. Hypertension will result in seizures
B. Hypertension can be the first sign of cardiomyopathy
C. Hypertension is a common problem with this drug that can be managed
D. Hypertension is most likely to occur in patients without risk factors - (correct Answer) - C.
Hypertension is a common problem with this drug that can be managed
4. Targeted therapies work in several ways to stop cancer growth. Which one of the following is a way
that targeted therapies work?
A. deregulating cell signaling pathways
B. oncogene activation
, C. inhibiting excessive growth factors
D. blocking apoptosis - (correct Answer) - C. inhibiting excessive growth factors
5. J.R. is a 60-year-old male patient with cancer who is receiving a treatment of gemtuzumab ozogamicin.
Which one of the following statements is true regarding this agent?
A. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a conjugated monoclonal antibody that is chemically linked to a
chemotherapy agent
B. Gemtuzumabozogamicin is an unconjugated monoclonal antibody that is linked to a radioisotope
C. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a chimeric conjugated monoclonal antibody linked to a chemotherapy
agent
D. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a conjugated monoclonal antibody that has several antigens as targets -
(correct Answer) - A. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a conjugated monoclonal antibody that is chemically
linked to a chemotherapy agent
chimeric antibodies: "ximab"
humanized antibodies "zumab"
6. An oncology nurse's patient is being placed on a monoclonal antibody in addition to chemotherapy.
The patient is wondering why she needs both types of treatment. The oncology nurse caring for her
replies that the monoclonal antibody:
A. results in immediate cell death while chemotherapy blocks intracellular signaling.
B. flags cancer cells for destruction by the immune system and chemotherapy initiates the complement
cascade.
C. targets primarily the nucleus of the cancer cell to stop proliferation.
D. targets a specific protein that is driving the growth of the cancer. - (correct Answer) - D. targets a
specific protein that is driving the growth of the cancer.
7. S. J. is a 44-year-old female patient with cancer with a known BRCA mutation. She is being treated
with olaparib. The oncology nurse caring for her is teaching her about her disease. As part of her
teaching, the nurse most likely explains which one of the following?
A. Genetically mutated ovarian cancer cells are sensitive to poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP)inhibition.
B. PARP inhibitors repair damaged DNA single-strand breaks.
C. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors are used in the treatment of estrogen receptor-negative breast
cancers.
D. Proteasome inhibitors are effective in the treatment of BRCA-mutated breast cancer. - (correct
Answer) - A. Genetically mutated ovarian cancer cells are sensitive to poly-ADP ribose polymerase
