Health Promotion and Maintenance NCLEX Questions Related

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The chemotherapeutic DNA alkylating agents such as nitrogen mustards are effective because they:

  • A. cross-link DNA strands with covalent bonds between alkyl groups on the drug and guanine bases on DNA.
  • B. have few, if any, side effects.
  • C. are used to treat multiple types of cancer.
  • D. are cell-cycle-specific agents.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Alkylating agents are highly reactive chemicals that introduce alkyl radicals into biologically active molecules and thereby prevent their proper functioning, replication, and transcription. Choice 2 is incorrect because alkylating agents have numerous side effects including alopecia, nausea, vomiting, and myelosuppression. Choice 3 is incorrect because nitrogen mustards have a broad spectrum of activity against chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and breast and ovarian cancer, but they are effective chemotherapeutic agents because of DNA crosslinkage. Choice 4 is incorrect because alkylating agents are non-cell-cycle-specific agents.