ANTICANCER DRUGS
ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENT
• GOAL OF TREATMENT:
to treat cancer cells and
conserve normal cells by
interfering with cancer
cell reproduction
• USE
• Cure
• Relieve symptoms
• Prevent complication
• Reduce tumor size before
surgery
• TYPES OF AGENT
• Cell cycle specific:
respond during a specific
cycle of the cell
• Cell cycle non-specific:
respond during any
phase
• Recovery period is
needed to allow normal
cell to regenerate 
chemotherapy may be
given for several month
then stopped for a period
of time
 ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENT
• PRINCIPLE OF • Classification of agent
CHEMOTHERAPY according to tissue
• Timing of dose around response if infiltration
the cell cycle and in occurs
relation to other drugs is • Vesicant : cause blister,
critical tissue sloughing, necrosis
• Combination therapy is • Non-vesicant : no severe
more effective tissue destruction, usually
• Effectiveness of the drug administered first
relies on the number of • Irritant : cause
cells in division thrombophlebitis,
cellulitis, possible
necrosis
 ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENT
• HANDLING OF THE • DURING
DRUGS ADMINISTRATION
• Use gloves, protective • Choose appropriate site
garment, mask  distal to proximal,
• Prime IVF with saline avoid sites over joints
solution • Consider sequence,
• Disposed all used in delivery, vesicant
preparation and property
administration in • Check for blood return in
container labeled IV
“HAZARDOUS WASTE” • Avoid extravasation
 ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENT
MAJOR SIDE • Thrombocytopenia :
EFFECTS decrease platelet
• Bone Marrow – Assess for bleeding 
petechiae
Depression
• Anemia : monitor
• Leukopenia :
H&H
decrease WBC
– Pallor of skin
– Assess for infection 
– Increased fatigue
monitor temperature
– Shortness of breath
 ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENT
• Nausea & Vomiting • CLASSIFICATION OF
• Stomatitis DRUGS
• Alopecia • Alkylating agent
• Antimetabolites
• Antibiotics
• Hormonal agent
• Radioactive agent
 ALKYLATING AGENTS
• Disrupt structure of • USE
DNA • Leukemia
• Cell cycle nonspecific • Hodgkin’s
• COMMON DRUGS • CA of breast, ovaries,
• Busulfan – Myleran testes, prostate
• Chlorambucil –
Leukeran
• Cisplatin – Platinol
• Mechlorethamine -
Mustard
 ALKYLATING AGENTS
• ADVERSE EFFECTS • NURSING
• Bone marrow CONSIDERATION
depression  severe • Cause infertility
side effect problem
• N&V • Mustard is a vesicant
• alopecia • Cisplatin is irritant
 ANTIMETEBOLITES
• Cell cycle specific • USE
• Inhibit DNA and RNA • Effective in rapidly
synthesis proliferating cancer
• COMMON DRUGS • Leukemia
• Cytarabine – Cytosar-U • Ca of the breast, GIT,
• Fluxuridine – FUDR neck, cervix
• Fluorouracil – 5FU • ADVERSE EFFECT
• Mercatopurine –6-MP • Bone marrow depression
• Methotrexate - MTX • stomatitis
 ANTIMETEBOLITES
NURSING CONSIDERATION
• Can cause nephrotoxicity  monitor lab
results
• Encourage fluid intake
• May take folic acid increase protection
of normal cell
 HORMONAL ANTINEPLASTIC
AGENTS
• Cytostatic : alter • COMMON AGENTS
hormonal • Androgen
environment of tumor • Estrogen
• USE: CA of • Pogesterone
• Prostate • Corticosteroids
• Breast • ADVERSE EFFECTS
• Endometrium • N&V
• Renal system • alopecia
 RADIOACTIVE DRUG
• Emits radiation • NURSING
• To destroy specific cell CONSIDERATION
• Cell specific • Require isolation
• precaution  prevent
USES:
radiation contamination
• Leukemia
• Thyroid CA
• SIDE EFFECT
• Bone marrow depression
 ANTIBIOTICS
• Cell cycle specific • COMON DRUGS
• Non cell cycle specific • Doxorubicin –
• Binds with DNA Adriamycin
• USE • Bleomycin –
• Blenoxane
Hodgkin’s
• • Plicamycin =
Testicular carcinoma
Mithracin
• Breast and bladder
CA
 ANTIBIOTICS
• ADVERSE EFFECT • NURSING
• Bone marrow IMPLICATION
depression – severe • Al are vesicant except
side effect bleomycin  irritant
• N&V • Teach sign of
• Alopecia infection