Pharmacology of Antimetabolites: Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

Which of the following is a major adverse effect of 5-fluorouracil?

Accepted Answer

Mucositis

Answer

Myelosuppression

Answer

Hepatotoxicity

Answer

Pneumonitis

Question 2

Gemcitabine is commonly used in the treatment of which type of cancer?

Accepted Answer

Pancreatic cancer

Answer

Breast cancer

Answer

Lung cancer

Answer

Prostate cancer

Question 3

Which of the following statements about antimetabolites is true?

Accepted Answer

They are typically cell cycle-specific

Answer

They are commonly used as first-line therapy for cancer

Answer

They are generally non-toxic

Answer

They are effective against all types of cancer

Question 4

5-fluorouracil is converted to its active metabolite by which enzyme?

Accepted Answer

Uracil phosphoribosyltransferase

Answer

Thymidine kinase

Answer

Dihydrofolate reductase

Answer

Ribonucleotide diphosphate reductase

Question 5

Which of the following drugs is a purine analog?

Accepted Answer

6-mercaptopurine

Answer

Methotrexate

Answer

5-fluorouracil

Answer

Gemcitabine

Question 6

5-fluorouracil is typically administered by which route?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Oral

Answer

Intramuscular

Answer

Subcutaneous

Question 7

Methotrexate primarily inhibits which enzyme in the folate pathway?

Accepted Answer

Dihydrofolate reductase

Answer

Thymidylate synthase

Answer

Ribonucleotide reductase

Answer

Topoisomerase I

Question 8

5-fluorouracil is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of which type of cancer?

Accepted Answer

Colorectal cancer

Answer

Breast cancer

Answer

Lung cancer

Answer

Prostate cancer

Question 9

Which of the following laboratory tests is used to monitor for the renal toxic effects of methotrexate?

Accepted Answer

Renal function tests

Answer

Complete blood count

Answer

Liver function tests

Answer

Electrolytes

Question 10

Antimetabolites can interact with which of these drugs, posing a potential risk to patients?

Accepted Answer

Folic acid

Answer

Coumarin

Answer

Paracetamol

Answer

Aspirin

Question 11

Which of the following is a primary mechanism of action shared by antimetabolites?

Accepted Answer

Inhibiting DNA synthesis by targeting specific enzymes

Answer

Interfering with RNA transcription by binding to RNA polymerase

Answer

Blocking cell division by interfering with microtubule assembly

Answer

Stimulating apoptosis by activating the intrinsic pathway

Question 12

Which of the following is a major therapeutic application of 5-fluorouracil?

Accepted Answer

Treatment of solid tumors, particularly colorectal cancer

Answer

Management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children

Answer

Prevention of organ transplant rejection

Answer

Suppression of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis

Question 13

Myelosuppression, a condition characterized by reduced production of blood cells, is a common adverse effect associated with:

Accepted Answer

Both methotrexate and gemcitabine

Answer

Methotrexate

Answer

Gemcitabine

Answer

Neither methotrexate nor gemcitabine

Question 14

Gemcitabine differs from other antimetabolites in that it:

Accepted Answer

Targets ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme involved in DNA synthesis

Answer

Is a nucleoside analogue that targets DNA synthesis

Answer

Is converted into a cytotoxic metabolite by thymidine kinase

Answer

Lacks myelosuppressive effects

Question 15

Antimetabolites are commonly used in cancer treatment as:

Accepted Answer

Both neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy

Answer

Neoadjuvant therapy, given before surgery to shrink tumors

Answer

Adjuvant therapy, given after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence

Answer

Neither neoadjuvant nor adjuvant therapy

Question 16

Which of the following is not a characteristic of antimetabolites?

Accepted Answer

They are generally broad-spectrum agents.

Answer

They interfere with nucleic acid synthesis.

Answer

They have a narrow therapeutic index.

Answer

They can be used to treat a wide range of cancers.

Question 17

Methotrexate inhibits which enzyme involved in nucleotide synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Dihydrofolate reductase

Answer

Thymidylate synthase

Answer

Ribonucleotide reductase

Question 18

Gemcitabine is primarily used to treat which type of cancer?

Accepted Answer

Pancreatic cancer

Answer

Breast cancer

Answer

Lung cancer

Answer

Colorectal cancer

Question 19

Which of the following statements about antimetabolites is true?

Accepted Answer

They are typically used in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents to enhance efficacy or reduce resistance.

Answer

They are not effective against solid tumors.

Answer

They are always given orally.

Question 20

Which of the following is a potential adverse effect of capecitabine?

Accepted Answer

Hand-foot syndrome

Answer

Cardiotoxicity

Answer

Myelosuppression

Answer

Neurotoxicity

Question 21

Erlotinib is primarily used to treat which type of cancer?

Accepted Answer

Lung cancer

Answer

Colorectal cancer

Answer

Breast cancer

Answer

Pancreatic cancer

Question 22

Which of the following statements about targeted therapies is true?

Accepted Answer

They are designed to specifically inhibit key proteins involved in cancer cell growth and survival.

Answer

They are always given intravenously.

Answer

They have no role in the treatment of hematological malignancies.