McKenna's Pharmacology for Nursing, 2e

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.

Test your current knowledge of antineoplastic agents with a PrepU Practice Quiz!

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

ALKYLATING AGENTS busulfan carboplatin carmustine chlorambucil cisplatin cyclophosphamide

lomustine melphalan oxaliplatin procarbazine temozolomide thiotepa ANTIMETABOLITES azacitidine capecitabine

cladribine clofarabine colaspase

raltitrexed thioguanine

ANTINEOPLASTIC ANTIBIOTICS bleomycin

cytarabine fludarabine fluorouracil gemcitabine mercaptopurine methotrexate pemetrexed

dactinomycin daunorubicin doxorubicin

dacarbazine fotemustine ifosfamide

epirubicin idarubicin