Chemotherapy: bevacizumab: 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.

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Pharmacology · Chemotherapy: bevacizumab

Sample item

A patient on bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer develops new hypertension and proteinuria. Which adverse effect profile fits this drug?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Hypertension, bleeding, impaired wound healing and gastrointestinal perforation

Bevacizumab is an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, and VEGF blockade reduces endothelial repair and nitric oxide, causing hypertension, proteinuria, arterial thrombosis, haemorrhage, poor wound healing and bowel perforation. It is stopped before surgery.

Option by option

  • A. Pulmonary fibrosis

    Pulmonary fibrosis is typical of bleomycin and busulfan.

  • B. Hypertension, bleeding, impaired wound healing and gastrointestinal perforation (correct)

    Correct. These are anti-VEGF class effects.

  • C. Acneiform rash

    Acneiform rash is typical of anti-EGFR drugs.

  • D. Cardiomyopathy and cumulative dose toxicity

    Cumulative cardiomyopathy is typical of doxorubicin.

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 B, Hypertension, bleeding, impaired wound healing and gastrointestinal perforation. Bevacizumab is an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, and VEGF blockade reduces endothelial repair and nitric oxide, causing hypertension, proteinuria, arterial thrombosis, haemorrhage, poor wound healing and bowel perforation.

Why is "Pulmonary fibrosis" not the answer?

Pulmonary fibrosis is typical of bleomycin and busulfan.

Why is "Acneiform rash" not the answer?

Acneiform rash is typical of anti-EGFR drugs.

Why is "Cardiomyopathy and cumulative dose toxicity" not the answer?

Cumulative cardiomyopathy is typical of doxorubicin.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chemotherapy: bevacizumab in Pharmacology. It is stopped before surgery.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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: bevacizumab?

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.