Chemotherapy Biotherapy Certification ONS Practice Testq

Which type of drugs are included in cell cycle non-specific therapy?

1. Alkylating drugs and antitumor antibiotics

2. Only non-toxic agents

3. All hormonal agents

4. Vinca plant alkaloids exclusively

The correct answer is: Alkylating drugs and antitumor antibiotics

Cell cycle non-specific therapy refers to medications that can target cancer cells at any point in the cell cycle, regardless of their stage of division. Alkylating drugs and antitumor antibiotics are prime examples of this category. Alkylating agents work by damaging DNA, which can prevent cancer cells from replicating effectively, and they are able to exert their effects during various phases, including G1 and S phases. Antitumor antibiotics also have properties that make them effective throughout the cell cycle. They interact with DNA and interfere with its function, leading to apoptosis or cell death. By affecting cells independent of their cycle phase, these drugs provide flexibility in treatment and can target rapidly dividing tumor cells as well as those that are not actively dividing. The other choices are not representative of cell cycle non-specific therapies. Non-toxic agents do not fit into this category as they often refer to treatments that are not intended to harm cancer cells directly, while hormonal agents are more specific to certain types of cancer and primarily target specific hormone receptors. Vinca plant alkaloids, on the other hand, are cell cycle phase-specific, primarily acting during the M-phase when the cell is dividing. Thus, alkylating drugs and antitumor antibiotics are correctly identified as the representative