Antitumor antibiotics: Nursing pharmacology

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ANTITUMOR ANTIBIOTICS, PART 1/2
DRUG NAME
bleomycin
(Blenoxane)

dactinomycin
(Cosmegen)

CLASS
Antitumor antibiotics
MECHANISM of ACTION
Interference with the DNA/RNA synthesis in cells that are rapidly dividing
INDICATIONS
  • Leukemia, lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma
  • Solid tumors: breast, bladder, ovarian, lung cancers
ROUTE(S) of ADMINISTRATION
IV (primarily)
SIDE EFFECTS
Common side effects 
  • Bone marrow suppression
    • Boxed warning for: mitomycin, all anthracyclines
  • GI toxicity: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis
  • Vesicants 
    • Boxed warning for: anthracyclines
  • Alopecia
  • Gastrointestinal disturbance: nausea, vomiting
  • Vesication 
  • Severe myelosuppression (dactinomycin)
  • Pulmonary toxicity (boxed warning)
  • Reaction: hypotension, fever, chills, confusion (boxed warning)
  • Potentiates effect of radiation therapy
  • Nephrotoxicity

CONTRAINDICATIONS & CAUTIONS
Common contraindications & cautions
  • Pregnancy
  • Lactation
  • Severe cardiac disease 
  • Use with caution in hepatic and renal impairment
ANTITUMOR ANTIBIOTICS, PART 2/2
DRUG NAME
mitomycin
(Mutamycin)

daunorubicin (Cerubidine),
doxorubicin (Adriamycin),
idarubicin (Idamycin),
epirubicin (Ellence),

CLASS
Antitumor antibiotics
MECHANISM of ACTION
Interference with the DNA/RNA synthesis in cells that are rapidly dividing
INDICATIONS
  • Leukemia, lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma
  • Solid tumors: breast, bladder, ovarian, lung cancers
ROUTE(S) of ADMINISTRATION
IV (primarily)
SIDE EFFECTS
Common side effects 
  • Bone marrow suppression
    • Boxed warning for: mitomycin, all anthracyclines
  • GI toxicity: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis
  • Vesicants 
    • Boxed warning for: anthracyclines
  • Alopecia
  • Gastrointestinal disturbance: nausea, vomiting
  • Vesication 
  • Severe myelosuppression (dactinomycin)
Cardiotoxicity
All anthracyclines
  • Cardiotoxicity (boxed warning)
daunorubicin: 
  • Dosage reduction in hepatic and renal impairment (boxed warning)
doxorubicin:
  • Secondary malignancy (boxed warning)
  • Red discoloration of urine, sweat
idarubicin:
  • Dosage reduction in hepatic and renal impairment (boxed warning)
epirubicin:
  • Secondary malignancy (boxed warning)
  • Red discoloration of urine, sweat
CONTRAINDICATIONS & CAUTIONS
Common contraindications & cautions
  • Pregnancy
  • Lactation
  • Severe cardiac disease 
  • Use with caution in hepatic and renal impairment
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Coagulation disorders
doxorubicin, epirubicin:
  • Recent myocardial infarction
  • Myocardial insufficiency
  • Arrhythmias
  • Myelosuppression
NURSING CONSIDERATIONS for
ANTITUMOR ANTIBIOTICS
ASSESSMENT & MONITORING
Assessment and monitoring

Assessment
  • Current symptoms: presence of a hard, immovable lump in the breast or underarm, nipple discharge, and pain; as well as any skin changes on the breast or nipple
  • Weight 
  • Vital signs 
  • Laboratory test results: CBC, renal and hepatic function; negative pregnancy test
  • Diagnostic test results: mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, biopsy, ECG
  • TNM classification

Administration
  • Ensure central line or a large-bore peripheral IV is in place
  • Hydrate with IV fluids
  • Premedicate with antiemetic 30 to 60 minutes before infusion
  • Use PPE when handling the medication
  • Ask the client to report heart palpitations; discomfort at the IV insertion site
    • Extravasation
      • Stop the infusion immediately
      • Elevate extremity
      • Apply ice pack
      • Administer dexrazoxane once daily for three consecutive days
        • Monitor CBC, liver function tests for dexrazoxane toxicities

Monitoring
  • Side effects
    • Ongoing monitoring for secondary malignancy
  • Evaluate for the desired therapeutic effect: decreased tumor size and spread of the malignancy 
CLIENT EDUCATION
  • Purpose of the medication: impairs growth of cancer cells
  • IV administration every 21 days for six cycles
  • Side effects
    • Harmless red discoloration of urine and sweat
    • Nausea and vomiting
      • Increase fluid intake; eat small, frequent meals
    • Increased risk for infection
      • Frequent hand hygiene, avoid crowds and contact with people with known infections; avoid live attenuated vaccines
    • Bleeding problems
  • Use reliable contraception during treatment

Transcript

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Antitumor antibiotics are chemotherapeutic agents used to treat various cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma, as well as solid tumors, such as breast, bladder, ovarian, and lung cancers. Antitumor antibiotics include bleomycin, dactinomycin, mitomycin, as well as anthracyclines such as daunorubicin, doxorubicin, idarubicin, and epirubicin.

These medications are primarily given intravenously, but bleomycin can also be administered intramuscularly. Once administered they act as cell cycle nonspecific agents, which means they target cells in all phases of the cell cycle. The exception is bleomycin, which specifically goes for cells in the G2 phase. Now, the way they work is twofold: first, these medications disrupt protein synthesis in target cells; and second, they bind to DNA, causing its fragmentation. Ultimately, this stops the rapidly dividing cancer cells from replicating and eventually causes their death.

Unfortunately, antitumor antibiotics also act on rapidly dividing healthy cells in our body, like those in the bone marrow, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. So antitumor antibiotics, with the exception of bleomycin, can all cause bone marrow suppression, which is a boxed warning for all anthracyclines as well as mitomycin. Bone marrow suppression can lead to anemia, leukopenia, increasing the risk of infections, and thrombocytopenia, increasing the risk of bleeding. Moreover, they can all cause alopecia, as well as gastrointestinal toxicity, which can manifest as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or stomatitis.