Roach's Introductory Clinical Pharmacology 11th Edition - Antineoplastic Drugs and Targeted Therapies Related

Review Roach's Introductory Clinical Pharmacology 11th Edition - Antineoplastic Drugs and Targeted Therapies related questions and content

A client has been prescribed melphalan for the treatment of an ovarian tumor. The client wants to know how the drug acts. Which of the following would the nurse integrate into the response?

  • A. Increased acidity of the cell environment
  • B. Change to a more alkaline cell environment
  • C. Neutralization of the alkalinity of the cell environment
  • D. Change in the cell to a neutral environment
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The nurse should explain to the client that the alkylating agent changes the cell to a more alkaline environment, which in turn damages malignant cells, which are more susceptible to the effects of the alkylating drugs. Alkylating drugs do not increase the acidity of the cell environment, neutralize the alkalinity of the cell environment, or change the cell to a neutral environment.