ONS Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Certificate Exam
2025/2026
3 major phases of cell division: - Answer-Interphase
Mitotic phase
Cytokinesis
/.3 steps of interphase: - Answer-First growth phase (G1)
Synthesis phase (S phase)
Second growth phase (G2)
/.4 phases of mitosis: - Answer-Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
/.Innate immunity: - Answer-Non-specific response, either:
1. Barrier (skin, mucous membranes, flora of skin/gut)
2. Cellular components (phagocytes, natural killer cells, granulocytes, macrophages)
/.Adaptive immunity: - Answer-Follows innate immunity if unsuccessful. Memory
immunity, including:
1. Humoral immunity (production of antibodies or immunoglobulins)
2. Cell mediated immunity (dependent upon T cells)
3. Regulatory T -cells (prevent autoimmune reactions and limit inflammatory responses)
/.Define mutations - Answer-Variations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene
/.3 main goals of treatment: - Answer-Cure
Control
Palliation
/.Define neoadjuvant therapy - Answer-Treatment is given prior to surgery to shrink the
tumor
, /.Define adjuvant therapy - Answer-Additional cancer treatment given after the primary
treatment to lower the risk that the cancer reoccur
/.Define conditioning/preparative therapy - Answer-Treatments used to prepare a patient
for stem cell transplantation
/.2 types of conditioning therapies: - Answer-Myeloablative
Nonmyeloablative
/.Define dose density - Answer-Drug dose per unit of time
/.Define dose intensity - Answer-Amount of drug delivered over time
/.How is relative dose intensity (RDI) calculated? - Answer-By comparing the dose that
the patient ACTUALLY received to the planned dose of the standard regimen
/.How do alkylating agents work? - Answer-By causing a break in the DNA helix strand,
interfering with DNA replication and causing cell death
/.3 subcategories of alkylating agents: - Answer-1. Nitrogen mustards
2. Platinum-based agents (do not possess an alkyl group but still termed alkylating
agents as they work similarly)
3. Nitrosoureas
/.Most common subcategory of alkylating agents: - Answer-Nitrogen mustards
/.Common alkylating agents: - Answer-Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Ifosfamide (Ifex)
Bendamustine (Treanda)
/.Common platinum-based agents: - Answer-Cisplatin (Platinol)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
/.What is unique about nitrosoureas agents? - Answer-Able to cross the blood-brain
barrier; can be effective in treating some brain tumors
/.Common nitrosoureas agents: - Answer-Carmustine (BiCNU)
Lomustine (CeeNu)
Streptozocin (Zanosar)
/.Hypersensitivity can occur with late doses of: - Answer-Carboplatin
/.These agents are typically categorized as highly emetogenic: - Answer-1. Alkylating
agents
2. Nitrosoureas
2025/2026
3 major phases of cell division: - Answer-Interphase
Mitotic phase
Cytokinesis
/.3 steps of interphase: - Answer-First growth phase (G1)
Synthesis phase (S phase)
Second growth phase (G2)
/.4 phases of mitosis: - Answer-Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
/.Innate immunity: - Answer-Non-specific response, either:
1. Barrier (skin, mucous membranes, flora of skin/gut)
2. Cellular components (phagocytes, natural killer cells, granulocytes, macrophages)
/.Adaptive immunity: - Answer-Follows innate immunity if unsuccessful. Memory
immunity, including:
1. Humoral immunity (production of antibodies or immunoglobulins)
2. Cell mediated immunity (dependent upon T cells)
3. Regulatory T -cells (prevent autoimmune reactions and limit inflammatory responses)
/.Define mutations - Answer-Variations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene
/.3 main goals of treatment: - Answer-Cure
Control
Palliation
/.Define neoadjuvant therapy - Answer-Treatment is given prior to surgery to shrink the
tumor
, /.Define adjuvant therapy - Answer-Additional cancer treatment given after the primary
treatment to lower the risk that the cancer reoccur
/.Define conditioning/preparative therapy - Answer-Treatments used to prepare a patient
for stem cell transplantation
/.2 types of conditioning therapies: - Answer-Myeloablative
Nonmyeloablative
/.Define dose density - Answer-Drug dose per unit of time
/.Define dose intensity - Answer-Amount of drug delivered over time
/.How is relative dose intensity (RDI) calculated? - Answer-By comparing the dose that
the patient ACTUALLY received to the planned dose of the standard regimen
/.How do alkylating agents work? - Answer-By causing a break in the DNA helix strand,
interfering with DNA replication and causing cell death
/.3 subcategories of alkylating agents: - Answer-1. Nitrogen mustards
2. Platinum-based agents (do not possess an alkyl group but still termed alkylating
agents as they work similarly)
3. Nitrosoureas
/.Most common subcategory of alkylating agents: - Answer-Nitrogen mustards
/.Common alkylating agents: - Answer-Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Ifosfamide (Ifex)
Bendamustine (Treanda)
/.Common platinum-based agents: - Answer-Cisplatin (Platinol)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
/.What is unique about nitrosoureas agents? - Answer-Able to cross the blood-brain
barrier; can be effective in treating some brain tumors
/.Common nitrosoureas agents: - Answer-Carmustine (BiCNU)
Lomustine (CeeNu)
Streptozocin (Zanosar)
/.Hypersensitivity can occur with late doses of: - Answer-Carboplatin
/.These agents are typically categorized as highly emetogenic: - Answer-1. Alkylating
agents
2. Nitrosoureas
