14
Antineoplastic agents
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, you should be able to:
1.
Describe the nature of cancer and the changes the body undergoes when cancer occurs.
2.
Describe the therapeutic actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, most common adverse
reactions and important drug–drug interactions associated with each class of antineoplastic agents and with
adjunctive therapy used with these drugs.
3.
Discuss the use of antineoplastic drugs across the lifespan.
4.
Compare and contrast the prototype drugs for each class of antineoplastic agents with the other drugs in
that class.
5.
Outline the care considerations and teaching needs for people receiving each class of antineoplastic agents.
Glossary of key terms
alopecia:
hair loss; a common adverse effect of many antineoplastic drugs, which are more effective against rapidly multiplying cells
such as those of hair follicles
anaplasia:
loss of organisation and structure; property of cancer cells
angiogenesis:
the generation of new blood vessels; cancer cells release an enzyme that will cause angiogenesis or the growth of new
blood vessels to feed the cancer cells
antineoplastic agent:
drug used to combat cancer or the growth of neoplasms
autonomy:
loss of the normal controls and reactions that inhibit growth and spreading; property of cancer cells
bone marrow suppression:
inhibition of the blood-forming components of the bone marrow; a common adverse effect of many
antineoplastic drugs, which are more effective against rapidly multiplying cells, such as those in bone marrow; also seen in anaemia,
thrombocytopenia and leucopenia
carcinoma:
tumour that originates in epithelial cells
metastasis:
ability to enter the circulatory or lymphatic system and travel to other areas of the body that are conducive to growth and
survival; property of cancer cells
neoplasm:
new or cancerous growth; occurs when abnormal cells have the opportunity to multiply and grow
sarcoma:
tumour that originates in the mesenchyme and is made up of embryonic connective tissue cells
Test your current knowledge of antineoplastic agents with a PrepU Practice Quiz!
ALKYLATING AGENTS
busulfan
carboplatin
carmustine
chlorambucil
cisplatin
cyclophosphamide
dacarbazine
fotemustine
ifosfamide
lomustine
melphalan
oxaliplatin
procarbazine
temozolomide
thiotepa
ANTIMETABOLITES
azacitidine
capecitabine
cladribine
clofarabine
colaspase
cytarabine
fludarabine
fluorouracil
gemcitabine
mercaptopurine
methotrexate
pemetrexed
raltitrexed
thioguanine
ANTINEOPLASTIC ANTIBIOTICS
bleomycin
dactinomycin
daunorubicin
doxorubicin
epirubicin
idarubicin
