A nurse is discussing the care of a patient with cancer with a nursing student. The patient is about to begin chemotherapy with a bifunctional alkylating agent. Which statement by the student indicates an understanding of this chemotherapeutic agent?

a."Alkylating agents are toxic to tissues that have rapidly dividing cells."b."Bifunctional alkylating agents cannot form cross-links in DNA."c."Resistance to alkylating agents is rare."d."This drug needs to be given as a prolonged infusion."

a."Alkylating agents are toxic to tissues that have rapidly dividing cells."

Explanation:

In the given example the patient is about to begin chemotherapy with a bifunctional alkylating agent.

when the two dna strands are cross linked they will not separate for dna replication which will halt the cell division process so rapidly dividing cells will stop dividing and die

Moreover, Chemotherapeutic agents, also known as antineoplastic agents, are used to prevent the growth of fast-growing cells, usually in the sense of malignancy, directly or indirectly.

Therefore, Chemotherapeutic agents are Alkylating agents that are toxic to tissues that have rapidly dividing cells

So, this statement by student indicates an understanding of his chemotherapeutic agent.