In: Nursing
Please name five of the major groups of antineoplastic agents and give a detailed description of each, including at least one example of a specific medication in each group. Please include both the generic and trade name, along with mechanism of action (what does it do within the body), side effects and interactions.
Major groups of antineoplastic agents:
Nucleoside Analogues- eg:Azacitidine- Indication:Acute and chronic myeloid leukemia, MOA: Inhibition of DNA methyltransferase and incorporates RNA thus inhibiting genetic expression, Toxicity: Kidney failure, Hypokalemia, Acidosis[renal tubular]
Antifolates- eg:Methotrexate- Indication:Bladder, breast, head and neck cancer, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, systemic sclerosis, MOA: Inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase, Toxicity: pulmonary, hepato, neuro toxicity, kidney failure, skin and bone necrosis.
Antimetabolites- eg:Hydroxycarbamide- Indication:leukemia, thrombocytosis, polycythemia, sickle cell anemia, MOA: Inhibition of DNA synthesis by inhibiting ribonucleotide reductase, Toxicity: Skin cancer, edema, hallucinations, seizuresand pulmonary toxicity.
Topoisomerase inhibitor- eg:Topotecan- Indication:Small cell lung cancer, ovarian and cervical cancer, MOA: Inhibition of Topoisomerase I, Toxicity: Diarrhoea, myelosuppression, bradycardia, ileus and colitis.
Vinca alkaloids- eg:Vinblastine- Indication:Bladder cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, Non-small cell lung cancer, thrombocytopenia and germ cell tumours, MOA: Inhibition of assembling microtubule and arresting cells in M phase, Toxicity: Neurotoxicity, myocardial ischemia and infarction,myelosuppression.