Question 1

Aspirin and similar NSAIDs may help prevent colorectal cancer and other malignancies by inhibiting the production of ______.&#10;A) new blood vessels&#10;B) tumor necrosis factor alpha&#10;C) interferons&#10;D) interleukins&#10;E) prostaglandins

Accepted Answer

Aspirin and similar NSAIDs inhibit the production of prostaglandins, which are known to promote inflammation and contribute to the development of some cancers, including colorectal cancer. By inhibiting prostaglandin production, aspirin and similar drugs may help prevent the development of these cancers.

Question 2

Most anticancer drugs exert severe and potentially toxic side effects because&#10;A) these drugs have a high therapeutic index (TI)&#10;B) most of these drugs are not approved by the FDA&#10;C) most of these drugs do not discriminate between healthy tissues and cancerous cells&#10;D) these drugs all have extremely long half-lives, and tend to accumulate in the body for an extended period of time&#10;E) the threshold dose of these drugs is typically much higher than other drugs

Accepted Answer

Most anticancer drugs do not discriminate between healthy tissues and cancerous cells, which leads to severe and potentially toxic side effects. This is because cancer cells share many characteristics with healthy cells, making it difficult to selectively target only the cancerous cells without affecting normal tissue.

Question 3

Anti-cancer drugs are classified as cell-cycle-nonspecific if they exert antineoplastic effects on the cell only when it is in the _______ phase of the cell cycle.&#10;A) G1&#10;B) G2&#10;C) S&#10;D) M&#10;E) none of the above are true

Accepted Answer

Cell-cycle-nonspecific drugs exert their effects on cells regardless of the phase of the cell cycle they are in, not only in a specific phase like G1, G2, S, or M.

Question 4

Monoclonal antibodies may be especially effective in treating certain cancers because these drugs&#10;A) create a strong alkyl reaction with the DNA molecule&#10;B) directly inhibit the topoisomerase enzyme responsible for DNA synthesis&#10;C) are attracted directly to the cancer cell, without an appreciable affect on healthy tissues&#10;D) directly inhibit the mitotic apparatus that is responsible for controlling cell division (mitosis)&#10;E) none of the above are true

Accepted Answer

Monoclonal antibodies are designed to specifically target and bind to antigens on cancer cells, which minimizes their effect on healthy tissues. This targeted approach is what makes them potentially effective in treating certain cancers. Options A, B, and D are not correct as they describe mechanisms unrelated to monoclonal antibodies. Option E is not correct as option C is true.

Question 5

Which of the following drug categories is not used to treat cancer?&#10;A) alkylating agents&#10;B) antimetabolites&#10;C) interferons&#10;D) drugs that increase mitosis&#10;E) endocrines

Accepted Answer

Drugs that increase mitosis (such as stimulants and growth factors) are not typically used to treat cancer as they would actually promote the growth and spread of cancer cells. The other drug categories listed (alkylating agents, antimetabolites, interferons, and endocrines) are commonly used in cancer treatment.

Question 6

A relatively new strategy for treating certain tumors is to prevent the formation of new blood vessels,thus impairing tumor growth by starving the tumor of oxygen and nutrients.Drugs that use this strategy are known as

A) topoisomerase inhibitors
B) angiogenesis inhibitors
C) aromatase inhibitors
D) antimetabolites
E) none of the above are true

Accepted Answer

Drugs that prevent the formation of new blood vessels are known as angiogenesis inhibitors. Option A (topoisomerase inhibitors) interfere with DNA replication, not tumor blood supply. Option C (aromatase inhibitors) block the activity of aromatase enzyme which causes a decrease in estrogen levels and hence used in breast cancer treatment. Option D (antimetabolites) interfere with the metabolic processes of cancer cells.

Question 7

Some of the newer cancer chemotherapy agents (e.g.,cytokines)are called biological therapies or biological response modifiers because they&#10;A) form strong alkyl bonds within the DNA of the cancerous cell&#10;B) act as false nucleic acid precursors during DNA biosynthesis&#10;C) encourage the body's immune system to fight cancerous cells&#10;D) encourage the mitotic apparatus to function more effectively&#10;E) stimulate the supply of blood and nutrients to the developing tumor

Accepted Answer

Biological therapies, such as cytokines, work to modify the body's response to cancer by encouraging the immune system to recognize and attack cancerous cells. They do not form bonds within DNA, act as false nucleic acid precursors, or directly affect the mitotic apparatus or blood supply to tumors.

Deck 36: Cancer Chemotherapy