Q.50) Which immunostimulant drug is used for chemotherapy induced immunosuppression? (1 marks ) Ans. Levamisole Thalidomide Aldesleukin Filgrastim Refresh Save & Next
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Nearly all patients receiving broad-based chemotherapy will experience immunosuppression. Chemotherapy, by design, targets rapidly dividing cells. It does not discriminate between cancer cells and other rapidly dividing cells. Since immune system cells divide quickly—especially during an immune response—they are among the many targets of chemotherapy. This is the reason that patients receiving chemotherapy are more prone to infections. The biggest clinical outcomes of immunosuppression are bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Another side effect can be chemotherapy-induced long-term fatigue, which may have a cytokine etiology.
Heather Zwickey, PhD, recently presented at the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) annual conference on the topic of immunosuppression in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Natural Medicine Journal talked to Zwickey about this important oncology topic.