AOCNP Cancer Pharmacology and Chemotherapy 2

Question 1

Which targeted therapy is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the HER2 receptor in HER2-positive breast cancer?

Accepted Answer

Trastuzumab

Answer

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) binds the extracellular domain of HER2, inhibiting downstream proliferative signaling and mediating antibody-dependent cytotoxicity.

Question 2

Imatinib (Gleevec) revolutionized the treatment of CML by targeting:

Accepted Answer

The BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase

Answer

Imatinib occupies the ATP-binding site of the BCR-ABL fusion kinase, constitutively produced by the Philadelphia chromosome translocation t(9;22).

Question 3

Which toxicity is most uniquely associated with bleomycin that limits its cumulative dosing?

Accepted Answer

Pulmonary fibrosis

Answer

Bleomycin accumulates in lung tissue where the inactivating enzyme bleomycin hydrolase is deficient, leading to dose-dependent pulmonary fibrosis.

Question 4

VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab carries which unique risk compared to cytotoxic chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Arterial thromboembolic events, wound healing impairment, and GI perforation

Answer

Anti-VEGF therapy impairs angiogenesis needed for wound healing and vascular integrity, increasing risks of arterial thromboembolism, delayed healing, and GI perforation.

Question 5

PARP inhibitors such as olaparib are most effective in tumors with defects in which repair pathway?

Accepted Answer

Homologous recombination (BRCA1/2 mutations)

Answer

BRCA1/2-mutated tumors rely solely on PARP-mediated base excision repair; olaparib blocks PARP, causing lethal synthetic lethality in HR-deficient cells.

AOCNP - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner Practice Test

AOCNP - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner Practice Test

AOCNP Cancer Pharmacology and Chemotherapy 2