Page 1355 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

2. Monitor serum calcium levels with androgens.
3. Monitor for signs of alterations in sexual
characteristics.
4. Monitor pancreatic function with asparaginase.
5. Monitor uric acid and cholesterol levels.
6. Monitor for signs of hemorrhagic cystitis.
VIII. Immunomodulator (Immunotherapy) Agents: Biological Response
Modifiers (Box 45-7)
A. Description
1. Immunomodulators stimulate the immune system to
recognize cancer cells and take action to eliminate or
destroy them.
2. Interleukins help various immune system cells to
recognize and destroy abnormal body cells.
3. Interferons slow tumor cell division, stimulate
proliferation, and cause cancer cells to differentiate
into nonproliferative forms.
B. Colony-stimulating factors induce more rapid bone marrow
recovery after suppression by chemotherapy (Box 45-8).
IX. Targeted Therapy
A. Description: (see Box 45-7)
1. Medications used as targeted therapies are monoclonal
antibodies and small molecule inhibitors that target a
cellular element of the cancer cell or antisense
medications that work at the gene level.
2. Examples of monoclonal antibodies are rituximab,
trastuzumab, alemtuzumab, bevacizumab, and
cetuximab.
B. Adverse effects: Allergic reactions (monoclonal antibodies)
X. Other Antineoplastic Medications
A. Altretamine: Cytotoxic agent used to treat ovarian cancer
B. Denileukin diftitox: Recombinant DNA-derived medication used
to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
C. Pegaspargase: Used in combination chemotherapies for acute
lymphoblastic leukemia in clients unable to take asparaginase
D. Bexarotene: Used to treat advanced-stage cutaneous T-cell
lymphoma
XI. Medications to Treat Anemia (see Chapter 44 for more information)
A. Iron-deficiency anemia: Iron, oral or intravenous
B. Vitamin B -deficiency anemia: Vitamin B , oral or intramuscular
12
12
C. Folate-deficiency anemia: Folate, oral
D. Acute blood loss anemia: Blood transfusion, packed red blood
cells, platelets, or fresh frozen plasma depending on cause
E. Anemia of chronic disease: Iron, oral or intravenous,
erythropoietic growth factors, leukopoietic growth factors, and
thrombopoietic growth factors (see Chapter 55 for more
information).

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