Pharmacotherapy

Question 1

Bevacizumab

Answer 1

• inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor A
• tx metastatic colon and gynecologic cancers
• causes HTN by altering nitric oxide, endothelin-1 production (dose dependent at usually 60 days after therapy) and will reverse after discontinuation
• HTN can be a marker of improved outcome

Question 2

cisplatin

Answer 2

• MOA: platinum based - crosslinks DNA preventing replication
• lots of solid tumors
• SE: peripheral neuropathy, inc risk of venous thromboembolism, SVT, MI, and cardiomyopathy

Question 3

Paclitaxel

Answer 3

• MOA: prevents destabilization of microtubules
• tx: ovarian, breast, lung cancer
• SE: polyneuroptahy, acral erythema/palmar-plantar erythrodysthesesia, bradycardia + heart block, hypotension, cardiomyopthy (w/doxorubicin - enhances effect)

Question 4

acral erythema/palmar-plantar erythrodysthesesia

Answer 4

• meds:
• desquamation, erythema, parasthesia
• high dose cytrabine, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, capecitabine, fluoruracil