Chemotherapy Agents

Question 1

What are the SE for vincristine?

Answer 1

1. Constipation*
2. Peripheral neuropathy - foot drop and loss of DTR*
3. Jaw pain
4. Shin pain
5. Hepatotoxicity

Question 2

What are the SE for vinblastine?

Answer 2

1. Mild neurotoxicity

2. Mucositis

Question 3

What are the SE for doxorubicin?

Answer 3

1. Severe tissue damage with extravasation
2. Worsens the effects of XRT
3. Acute cardiac toxicity i.e. arrhythymias, acute drop in LV function, pericarditis
4. Chronic cardiomyopathy*

Question 4

What are the SE for daunomycin?

Answer 4

1. Severe tissue damage with extravasation
2. Worsens the effects of XRT
3. Acute cardiac toxicity i.e. arrhythymias, acute drop in LV function, pericarditis
4. Chronic cardiomyopathy*

Question 5

What are the SE for cisplatin?

Answer 5

1. Highly emetogenic
2. Renal toxicity - Mg wasting, azotemiaNeurot
3. Permanent hearing loss*
4. Sensory peripheral neuropathy

Question 6

What are the SE for carboplatin?

Answer 6

1. Permanent hearing loss
2. Delayed myelosuppression
3. Hypersensitivity reactions

Question 7

What are the SE for ifosfamide?

Answer 7

1. Hemorrhagic cystiits*
2. SIADH
3. Proximal tubular damage
4. Neurotoxicity - somnolence disorientation, lethargy

Question 8

What are the SE for cyclophosphamide?

Answer 8

1. Hemorrhagic cystitis*
2. SIADH
3. Cardiac toxicity with high doses

Question 9

What are the SE for etoposide?

Answer 9

1. Hepatotoxicity
2. Hypersensitivity reactions
3. Secondary acute leukemia*

Question 10

What are the SE for cytarabine?

Answer 10

1. “Ara-C” Syndrome: high fever, malaise, rash, conjunctivitis, myalgias* - relieved by co-administration of corticosteroids
2. Mucositis
3. Neurotoxicity

Question 11

What are the SE for mercaptopurine?

Answer 11

1. Hepatotoxicity

2. Mucositis

Question 12

What are the SE for thioguanine?

Answer 12

1. Hepatotoxicity

2. Mucositis

Question 13

What are the SE for methotrexate?

Answer 13

1. Mucositis
2. Rash
3. Hepatotoxicity
4. Nephrotoxicity - avoid by using hydration, alkalinization and leukovorin
5. Neurotoxicity - acute stroke-like encephalopathy and seizures

Question 14

What are the SE for imatinib?

Answer 14

1. Nausea
2. Transient elevation of LFTs
3. Fatigue
4. Diarrhea

Question 15

What are the SE for tretinoin (ATRA)?

Answer 15

1. Teratogenicity*
2. Pseudotumor cerebri*
3. Cheilitis
4. Conjunctivitis
5. Headache
6. Xerosis
7. ATRA syndrome:
   a) Weight gain
   b) Respiratory distress
   c) Serous effusions
   d) Cardiac and renal failure

Question 16

What are the SE for dactinomycin?

Answer 16

1. Severe tissue damage with extravasation
2. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease
3. Mucositis
4. Can worsen effects of XRT

Question 17

What are the SE for bleomycin?

Answer 17

1. Interstitial pneumonitis that can lead to pulmonary fibrosis*
2. Dermatologic toxicity
3. Mucositis
4. Fever
5. Hypersensitivity
6. Raynaud’s phenomenon

Question 18

What are the SE of asparaginase?

Answer 18

1. Allergic reactions
2. Coagulopathy*
3. Hepatotoxicity
4. Pancreatitis*

Question 19

What are the SE of corticosteroids?

Answer 19

1. Weight changes
2. Mood changes
3. Hypertension
4. Myopathy
5. Avascular necrosis of hips*
6. Osteopenia
7. Hyperglycemia
8. Coagulopathy
9. Peptic ulcer