American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes explanations to enhance understanding. Boost your confidence and readiness for the exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What type of drug is Bleomycin classified as?

Antibiotic
Alkylating agent
Antimetabolite
Plant alkaloid

The correct answer is: Antibiotic

Bleomycin is classified as an antibiotic, specifically an antitumor antibiotic. This classification is based on its mechanism of action, which involves the binding of the drug to DNA. It causes breaks in the DNA strands by generating free radicals, leading to cell death, particularly in rapidly dividing cancer cells. Though it is used in the treatment of various cancers, including testicular cancer and lymphoma, its unique properties distinguish it from other types of chemotherapy drugs. It is not categorized as an alkylating agent, which directly add alkyl groups to DNA, nor as an antimetabolite that interferes with DNA and RNA synthesis through a different mechanism. Additionally, it is not a plant alkaloid, which are derived from plants and have different mechanisms of action. Understanding its classification as an antibiotic helps clarify its role and the specific context in which it is utilized in cancer treatment protocols.