Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Drugs
Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Drugs ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is administering leuprolide, a hormone, to a client who has prostate cancer. The nurse should explain to the client that leuprolide works by:
Blocking the estrogen receptors on the cancer cells and inhibiting their growth is the mechanism of action of tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that is used to treat breast cancer. Tamoxifen is not effective for prostate cancer, which is stimulated by testosterone, not estrogen.
Stimulating the production of testosterone and increasing the sensitivity of the cancer cells to chemotherapy is not the mechanism of action of leuprolide, a hormone that is used to treat prostate cancer. Leuprolide does not increase testosterone, but decreases it. Increasing testosterone would worsen prostate cancer, not improve it.
Suppressing the secretion of luteinizing hormone and reducing the level of testosterone is the mechanism of action of leuprolide, a gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) agonist that is used to treat prostate cancer. Leuprolide binds to the GnRH receptors in the pituitary gland and initially stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and folliclestimulating hormone (FSH). However, with continuous administration, leuprolide desensitizes the receptors and inhibits the secretion of LH and FSH. This leads to a decrease in the production of testosterone by the testes, which reduces the growth of prostate cancer cells.
Altering the metabolism of cortisol and inducing apoptosis of the cancer cells is not the mechanism of action of leuprolide, a hormone that is used to treat prostate cancer. Leuprolide does not affect cortisol, but testosterone. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that regulates stress response, inflammation, and metabolism. Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death that can be triggered by some chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin and doxorubicin.
Choice A reason: Blocking the estrogen receptors on the cancer cells and inhibiting their growth is the mechanism of action of tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that is used to treat breast cancer. Tamoxifen is not effective for prostate cancer, which is stimulated by testosterone, not estrogen.
Choice B reason: Stimulating the production of testosterone and increasing the sensitivity of the cancer cells to chemotherapy is not the mechanism of action of leuprolide, a hormone that is used to treat prostate cancer. Leuprolide does not increase testosterone, but decreases it. Increasing testosterone would worsen prostate cancer, not improve it.
Choice C reason: Suppressing the secretion of luteinizing hormone and reducing the level of testosterone is the mechanism of action of leuprolide, a gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) agonist that is used to treat prostate cancer. Leuprolide binds to the GnRH receptors in the pituitary gland and initially stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and folliclestimulating hormone (FSH). However, with continuous administration, leuprolide desensitizes the receptors and inhibits the secretion of LH and FSH. This leads to a decrease in the production of testosterone by the testes, which reduces the growth of prostate cancer cells.
Choice D reason: Altering the metabolism of cortisol and inducing apoptosis of the cancer cells is not the mechanism of action of leuprolide, a hormone that is used to treat prostate cancer. Leuprolide does not affect cortisol, but testosterone. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that regulates stress response, inflammation, and metabolism. Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death that can be triggered by some chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin and doxorubicin.