••• Chapter 49^ Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, and Tumor Markers^479
❍ What are the most commonly used drugs for primary treatment of advanced ovarian cancer?
Paclitaxel and carboplatin
❍ What is the dose-limiting toxicity of topotecan?
Myelosuppression.
❍ What is the most commonly used drug as a single agent for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia?
Methotrexate.
❍ Pretreatment for prevention of hypersensitivity reactions associated with paclitaxel include the use of?
Corticosteroids and H1 and H2 blockers.
❍ The etiology of the hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel is related to which component?
Cremophor EL serves as a solvent to allow paclitaxel to be soluble and induces a histamine release, leading to the
hypersensitivity reactions observed.
❍ What is the dose-limiting toxicity associated with Vincristine?
Neurotoxicity.
❍ What is the mechanism of action of 5-fluorouracil?
Competitive inhibition of thymidylate synthetase.
❍ Cisplatin is associated with depletion of what electrolytes?
Potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
❍ True or False: Fever is a frequent side effect of bleomycin.
True. Bleomycin-induced fever occurs within 24 hours of administration.
❍ The purpose of the use of the agent Mesna in conjunction with ifosfamide is?
Prevention of hemorrhagic cystitis.
❍ Which chemotherapeutic drugs have the most activity against uterine sarcomas?
Ifosfamide, Taxol, and cisplatin for carcinosarcomas (MMMT) and Adriamycin for leiomyosarcoma.
❍ What is the mechanism of action of vinca alkaloid type drugs?
Vinca alkaloids bind to tubulin to inhibit normal microtubular polymerization and lead to mitotic arrest.
❍ Ototoxicity associated with cisplatin typically involves what part of the audible range?
High frequencies.
❍ What is the mechanism of action of topotecan?
It is a topoisomerase I inhibitor.