Chemotherapy: dactinomycin: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Pharmacology · Chemotherapy: dactinomycin

Sample item

A 4-year-old has a large abdominal mass, haematuria and hypertension, and nephroblastoma is confirmed. After nephrectomy, vincristine is combined with which antitumour antibiotic that intercalates DNA and inhibits RNA synthesis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Dactinomycin

Dactinomycin (actinomycin D) intercalates into DNA and blocks DNA-dependent RNA synthesis. It is used with vincristine in Wilms tumour and in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Bleomycin is used in germ cell tumours and lymphoma, and daunorubicin in leukaemia.

Option by option

  • A. Daunorubicin

    Daunorubicin is used in acute leukaemia and is cardiotoxic.

  • B. Mitomycin

    Mitomycin cross-links DNA and is used in anal and bladder cancer.

  • C. Dactinomycin (correct)

    Correct. Dactinomycin is combined with vincristine in Wilms tumour.

  • D. Bleomycin

    Bleomycin is used in germ cell tumours and Hodgkin lymphoma and causes pulmonary fibrosis.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Pharmacology questions

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is C, Dactinomycin. Dactinomycin (actinomycin D) intercalates into DNA and blocks DNA-dependent RNA synthesis.

Why is "Daunorubicin" not the answer?

Daunorubicin is used in acute leukaemia and is cardiotoxic.

Why is "Mitomycin" not the answer?

Mitomycin cross-links DNA and is used in anal and bladder cancer.

Why is "Bleomycin" not the answer?

Bleomycin is used in germ cell tumours and Hodgkin lymphoma and causes pulmonary fibrosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chemotherapy: dactinomycin in Pharmacology. It is used with vincristine in Wilms tumour and in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Bleomycin is used in germ cell tumours and lymphoma, and daunorubicin in leukaemia.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Chemotherapy: dactinomycin?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.