antineoplastic

• chemotherapy- involves the administration of cytotoxic medications and chemicals to promote death of tumor cells
• route of administration: 1

  1. IV
  2. ORAL
  3. INTRATHECAL
  4. TOPICAL
  5. INTRA-ARTERIAL
  6. INTRACAVITY
  7. INTRAVESICAL
• CLASSIFICATION OF CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS:

  1. ALKYLATING AGENTS
  2. ANTIMETABOLITES
  3. CYTOTOXIC ANTIBIOTICS
  4. hormones and hormone antagonists
  5. plant alkaloids
• alkylating agents- non-phase specific and act by interfering with DNA replication

  1. CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE ( CYTOXAN)
  2. BUSULFAN ( MYLERAN )
  3. MECHLORETHAMINE ( MUSTARGEN)
• ANTIMETABOLITES- interfere w metabolites/ nucleic acis necessary for RNA and DNA synthesis

  1. 5-flu (5-fluorouracil)
  2. methotrexate (trexall)
  3. purinethol (6-mercaptopurine)
  4. vidaza (azacitidine)
• cytotoxic antibiotics- disrupt or inhibit DNA or RNA synthesis

  1. bleomycin
  2. doxorubicin
• hormones and hormone antagonists - phase specific (G1) and act by interfering with rna synthesis

  1. diethylstilbestrol (DES)
  2. TAMOXIFEN ( NOLVADEX)
  3. PREDNISONE
• PLANT ALKALOIDS-

  1. VINCA ALKALOIDS- phase-specific; inhibiting cell division
  2. ETOPOSIDE- acts during all cell cycle phases, interfering w/ DNA and cell division at metaphase
• extravasion- major complication of IV chemo
• bone marrow suppression leads to:

  leukopenia and thrombocytopenia
• common side effects of chemo:

  1. bone marrow suppression
  2. GI effects (anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
  3. stomatitis and mucositosis
  4. alopecia (hair loss)