COMMON CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS

 

DRUG	CLASS	TARGET	ORGAN TOXICITY	OTHER SIDE EFFECTS	INTERVENTIONS
CELL CYCLE SPECIFIC
methotrexate	ANTIMETABOLITE	folic acid, pyrimidine, purine	hepatotoxic nephrotoxic	photosensitivity acute tumor lysis syndrome	administer leucovorin to stop cell lysis administer allopurinol for uric acid from cell lysis
fluorouracil			cardiotoxic
vincristine	VINCA ALKALOID	M phase	neurotoxic	peripheral neuropathy (esp. foot drop) hyponatremia constipation	increase fluid intake adequate sodium diet prevent foot drop
paclitaxel	TAXANE	M phase	none	anaphylaxis	skin test premedicate with steroids, antihistamines, H2 blockers
irinotecan AND topotecan	TOPOISOMERASE I INHIBITOR	S phase	none	severe diarrhea	administer loperamide OR atropine for severe diarrhea
etoposide	TOPOISOMERASE II INHIBITOR		none	hypotension	monitor BP closely
NON-CELL CYCLE SPECIFIC
cyclophosphamide	ALKYLATING AGENTS	DNA structure	nephrotoxic	hemorrhagic cystitis sterility	administer early in the morning increase oral fluid intake assess urine for blood void frequently especially before bed
cisplatin			nephrotoxic ototoxic	highly emetogenic peripheral neuropathy Mg & K imbalances	administer 5-HT3 antagonists for emesis monitor I/O, creatinine, and BUN increase oral fluid intake administer mannitol
doxorubicin	ANTIBIOTICS		cardiotoxic	red-colored urine HepB reactivation	monitor ECG and echocardiograms
bleomycin			pulmotoxic	anaphylaxis	skin test assess lung sounds from time to time
tamoxifen	ANTIESTROGEN	estrogen receptors	hepatotoxic	deep vein thrombosis decreased libido steatorrhea	monitor liver enzymes decreased fat intake
asparaginase	OTHERS	amino acid asparagine	pancreatitis	anaphylaxis	skin test
hydroxyurea		DNA and RNA structure	hepatotoxic nephrotoxic	acute myeloid leukemia	monitor I/O, creatinine, and BUN, liver enzymes

COMMON TUMOR MARKERS
alpha fetoprotein (AFP) - liver cancer bladder tumor antigen (BTA) - bladder cancer CA 15-3 - breast cancer CA 125 - ovarian cancer calcitonin - thyroid cancer	carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) - colon cancer estrogen/progesterone receptors - breast cancer human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) - choriocarcinoma prostate specific antigen - prostate cancer