What is the primary side effect of alkylating agents on normal tissues?

What is the primary side effect of alkylating agents on normal tissues?

• A. Nausea
• B. Bone marrow suppression
• C. Skin rashes
• D. Fatigue

Answer: (B)

The primary side effect of alkylating agents on normal tissues is bone marrow suppression. Alkylating agents are a class of chemotherapy drugs that work by damaging the DNA of cancer cells to prevent their replication. However, this action is not limited to cancer cells; it can also affect normal, rapidly dividing cells in the body, particularly those in the bone marrow. Bone marrow suppression leads to a decrease in the production of blood cells, which can result in various hematological issues such as anemia (due to reduced red blood cell production), leukopenia (low white blood cell count, leading to increased susceptibility to infections), and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count, which can increase bleeding risk). The impact on bone marrow is a critical concern when administering alkylating agents, and healthcare providers monitor blood cell counts closely during treatment to manage these potential side effects effectively. While nausea, skin rashes, and fatigue can also occur with chemotherapy, they are not the primary concern associated with alkylating agents. Nausea can come from various chemotherapy agents, skin rashes can be a reaction to many medications, and fatigue often results as a general side effect of cancer treatment rather than being specific to alkylating agents. Therefore, bone marrow suppression is

The primary side effect of alkylating agents on normal tissues is bone marrow suppression. Alkylating agents are a class of chemotherapy drugs that work by damaging the DNA of cancer cells to prevent their replication. However, this action is not limited to cancer cells; it can also affect normal, rapidly dividing cells in the body, particularly those in the bone marrow.

Bone marrow suppression leads to a decrease in the production of blood cells, which can result in various hematological issues such as anemia (due to reduced red blood cell production), leukopenia (low white blood cell count, leading to increased susceptibility to infections), and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count, which can increase bleeding risk). The impact on bone marrow is a critical concern when administering alkylating agents, and healthcare providers monitor blood cell counts closely during treatment to manage these potential side effects effectively.

While nausea, skin rashes, and fatigue can also occur with chemotherapy, they are not the primary concern associated with alkylating agents. Nausea can come from various chemotherapy agents, skin rashes can be a reaction to many medications, and fatigue often results as a general side effect of cancer treatment rather than being specific to alkylating agents. Therefore, bone marrow suppression is