AOCNP Radiation Therapy Principles and Side Effects

Question 1

What is the primary mechanism by which ionizing radiation kills cancer cells?

Accepted Answer

Inducing DNA double-strand breaks leading to apoptosis or mitotic catastrophe

Answer

Directly disrupting cell membrane integrity

Answer

Activating natural killer cells to attack tumor cells

Answer

Inhibiting angiogenesis within the tumor microenvironment

Question 2

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) differs from conventional radiation in that SBRT delivers:

Accepted Answer

Ablative doses in 1–5 fractions with high precision

Answer

Lower doses over many fractions (25–35 treatments)

Answer

Proton beams exclusively

Answer

Whole-body radiation prior to bone marrow transplant

Question 3

Radiation recall is an acute dermatitis reaction triggered by certain chemotherapy agents administered after prior radiation. Which agent is most classically associated with radiation recall?

Accepted Answer

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)

Answer

Carboplatin

Answer

Vincristine

Answer

Cyclophosphamide

Question 4

Which grading system is used by oncology nurses to assess and document radiation-induced side effects including mucositis and dermatitis?

Accepted Answer

CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events)

Answer

Karnofsky Performance Scale

Answer

ECOG Performance Status Scale

Answer

NCI-ODWG grading

Question 5

Total body irradiation (TBI) is most commonly used in what context?

Accepted Answer

Myeloablative conditioning prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Answer

Palliative pain control for bone metastases

Answer

Prophylactic cranial irradiation in small cell lung cancer

Answer

Definitive treatment of localized prostate cancer

Question 6

Late radiation toxicity in the pelvis most commonly manifests as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Radiation proctitis, cystitis, or small bowel injury

Answer

Acute radiation dermatitis

Answer

Immediate hair loss in the field

Answer

Acute nausea and vomiting