Anticancer & Immunosuppressants

Topics in this chapter

• Cytotoxic Anticancer Drug Classes
• Targeted Anticancer Therapies
• Anticancer Drug Toxicities
• Chemotherapy Nausea and Antiemesis
• Immunosuppressant Drug Classes
• Calcineurin and mTOR Inhibitors

Practice questions

1. Question 1Q-23E3B9

   A 54-year-old man with metastatic colorectal cancer is scheduled to receive a chemotherapy regimen containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). To enhance the cytotoxic efficacy of 5-FU by increasing the stability of its inhibitory ternary complex with thymidylate synthase, which of the following agents is co-administered?

   1. A.Leucovorin (Folinic acid)
   2. B.Mesna
   3. C.Dexrazoxane
   4. D.Allopurinol
   See the answer and solution
2. Question 2Q-A7A757

   Which of the following immunosuppressive agents acts primarily by inhibiting calcineurin, thereby preventing the dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)?

   1. A.Sirolimus
   2. B.Tacrolimus
   3. C.Mycophenolate mofetil
   4. D.Basiliximab
   See the answer and solution
3. Question 3Q-7CBE45

   A patient receiving high-dose doxorubicin therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma develops signs of progressive heart failure. Which of the following mechanisms is primarily responsible for the cardiotoxicity induced by anthracyclines?

   1. A.Inhibition of topoisomerase I causing single-strand DNA breaks
   2. B.Generation of reactive oxygen species via iron-mediated free radical formation
   3. C.Direct alkylation of guanine bases in mitochondrial DNA
   4. D.Depolymerization of cardiac muscle microtubules
   See the answer and solution
4. Question 4Q-EE7687

   A 45-year-old woman undergoing chemotherapy with cisplatin experiences severe, intractable nausea and vomiting. Which of the following receptor antagonism is the primary mechanism of action for drugs like ondansetron used to manage this condition?

   1. A.Dopamine D2 receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone
   2. B.Serotonin 5-HT3 receptors on vagal afferents and in the CNS
   3. C.Neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarius
   4. D.Histamine H1 receptors in the vestibular system
   See the answer and solution
5. Question 5Q-6D6E8C

   A renal transplant recipient is prescribed an immunosuppressant that acts as a prodrug converted to mycophenolic acid. Which of the following is the specific intracellular enzyme inhibited by mycophenolic acid?

   1. A.Dihydrofolate reductase
   2. B.Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase
   3. C.HMG-CoA reductase
   4. D.Calcineurin phosphatase
   See the answer and solution