OCN Oncology Pharmacology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Targeted therapy with imatinib (Gleevec) works by inhibiting which specific molecular target?
- BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase (Correct answer)
- HER2 receptor
- VEGF receptor
- EGFR receptor
Correct answer: BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase
Imatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that specifically targets the BCR-ABL fusion protein, which drives CML cell proliferation.
Question 2: Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is indicated for cancers that overexpress which receptor?
- HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) (Correct answer)
- Estrogen receptor (ER)
- Progesterone receptor (PR)
- Androgen receptor (AR)
Correct answer: HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)
Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets HER2-overexpressing cancers, most commonly HER2+ breast and gastric cancers.
Question 3: Which drug class inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in cancer treatment?
- Everolimus and temsirolimus (Correct answer)
- Erlotinib and gefitinib
- Bevacizumab and ramucirumab
- Ipilimumab and nivolumab
Correct answer: Everolimus and temsirolimus
Everolimus and temsirolimus are mTOR inhibitors used in renal cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, and certain breast cancers.
Question 4: Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab work by blocking which protein to restore T-cell function?
- PD-1 (programmed death-1) (Correct answer)
- CTLA-4 only
- LAG-3 only
- HER2
Correct answer: PD-1 (programmed death-1)
Nivolumab is an anti-PD-1 antibody that blocks the PD-1 checkpoint, preventing tumor cells from suppressing T-cell immune responses.
Question 5: EGFR inhibitors such as erlotinib are most effective in NSCLC patients who have which characteristic?
- Activating EGFR mutation (Correct answer)
- KRAS mutation
- ALK rearrangement
- PD-L1 negative status
Correct answer: Activating EGFR mutation
Activating mutations in the EGFR gene (exons 19 and 21) predict sensitivity to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer.
Question 6: Bevacizumab (Avastin) targets tumor angiogenesis by inhibiting which growth factor?
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (Correct answer)
- Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)
- Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF)
Correct answer: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds and neutralizes VEGF, preventing the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow.
OCN Oncology Pharmacology 1
Targeted therapy with imatinib (Gleevec) works by inhibiting which specific molecular target?