Antineoplastic Medications

The broad range of medications used to treat cancer is reviewed in this section:
 Alkylating agents
 Antitumor antibiotics
 Antimetabolites
 Vinca alkaloids
 Topoisomerase inhibitors
 Hormonal medications
 Enzymes
Safe administration of these powerful medications is included in the review. The Priority
Concepts for this section primarily include cellular regulation and safety.

Side and Adverse Effects of Antineoplastic Medications

Although some side and adverse effects (e.g., anorexia, nausea and vomiting,
alopecia, low platelet and white blood cell [WBC] counts, infertility) are common to
many types of antineoplastic medications, certain medications have specific adverse
effects.

 Cisplatin: ototoxicity, tinnitus, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia,

hypomagnesemia, nephrotoxicity
 Cyclophosphamide: hemorrhagic cystitis
 Daunorubicin: heart failure, cardiac dysrhythmias
 Doxorubicin and idarubicin: cardiotoxicity, cardiomyopathy,
electrocardiographic changes
 Bleomycin sulfate: pulmonary toxicity
 Fluorouracil: phototoxicity, cerebellar dysfunction
 Methotrexate: photosensitivity, hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal (GI) and skin
toxicity
 Vincristine sulfate: neurotoxicity (manifesting as numbness and tingling in
the fingers and toes)
 Tamoxifen citrate: edema, hypercalcemia, increased cholesterol and
triglyceride levels
 Hormonal medications and enzymes: breast swelling, hot flashes, sex-
characteristic alterations, edema, weight gain, hypertension,
thromboembolytic disorders