Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) Certification Practice Test

Which chemotherapy drug is known to frequently cause Tumor Lysis Syndrome?

1. Docetaxel

2. Paclitaxel

3. Cisplatin

4. Hydroxyurea

The correct answer is: Cisplatin

Cisplatin is commonly associated with Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) due to its use in treating highly proliferative tumors, such as certain lymphomas and leukemias. When these tumors are treated aggressively, especially with drugs like cisplatin, they can release a significant amount of intracellular contents into the bloodstream, leading to rapid changes in electrolyte levels. TLS is characterized by hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperkalemia, and hypocalcemia, which can result in serious complications such as acute kidney injury, cardiac arrhythmias, and other systemic effects. In contrast, while docetaxel, paclitaxel, and hydroxyurea play roles in chemotherapy, they are less frequently linked to TLS. Docetaxel and paclitaxel are taxanes primarily used in solid tumors and do not typically result in the rapid cell lysis associated with TLS. Hydroxyurea, on the other hand, is often utilized to decrease tumor burden and to control blood counts in conditions like chronic myeloid leukemia; its effect on cell turnover is milder compared to cisplatin. Therefore, cisplatin's mechanism of action and the type of cancers it treats make it the most likely drugs