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Flashcards in Lung cancer Deck (30)
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1
Q

What are the risk factors for Lung cancer

A
  • Cigarette smoking and passive smoking
  • asbestos
  • occupational/environmental hazards e.g diesel fumes
  • genetic pre-disposition
  • lung disease
  • previous malignancies
2
Q

Are there any screening tools in the UK for lung cancer

A

NO

3
Q

What are the signs and symptoms of lung cancer

A

More than 90% are symptomatic and it could be

  • tumour related
  • non-specific systemic symptoms
  • metastatic disease

Respiratory symptoms experienced:

  • cough
  • dyspnoea
  • chest pain
  • haemoptysis
  • wheezing

Complications include:

  • nerve compression
  • superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO)
  • pleural effusion
  • dysphasgia
  • bone pain

Signs include:

  • unilateral wheeze
  • inspiratory crackle over a lobe
  • reduced breathe sound over a lobe
  • clubbing
  • cachexia (weakness/wasting of the body)
  • anaemia
4
Q

What are the investigations of lung cancer

A
  • chest x-ray
  • CT scan
  • PET-CET - can indicate where the cancer is
  • Biopsy
5
Q

What are the two different types of lung cancer called

A

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- more difficult to diagnose and detect with chest X-ray as it associated with glandular cells located within the peripheral of the lung

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
-Strong associated with cigarette smoking and can be seen on x-rays because it is more at the centre of the lungs.

6
Q

What cytogenetic mutation occurs with Lung cancer

A
  • EGFR
  • ALK (anapaestic lymphoma kinase) receptor
  • ROS-1
  • BRAF
  • KRAS
  • PD-1 expression
7
Q

What is the staging of lung cancer

A

T - tumour size, extent of invasion and penetration of tumour boundaries
T1 - tumour 3cm or less
T2 - tumour more than 3cm but less than 5cm
T3 - tumour more than 5cm but less than 7cm
T4 - tumour more than 7cm

N- number and presence of lymph nodes involved
N0 - no regional lymph nodes metastasis
N1 - single node <2cm
N2 - single node 2-5cm
N3 - multiple nodes >5cm; multiple node involvement across the body

M - Metastasis
M0- no distant metastasis
M1 - distant metastasis

8
Q

What are the treatment options for NSCLC

A
  • surgery
  • neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy + surgery
  • radical radiotherapy
  • radical chemotherapy
  • palliative chemo - symptomatic support + radiotherapy
9
Q

In NSCLC what types of patients is surgery indicated for

A
  • anyone without metastasis

- small tumour + no nodal involvement

10
Q

Who is adjuvant chemotherapy targeted towards

A
  • for stage II and III patients
  • patients with good performance status
  • within 8 weeks of surgery
11
Q

Compare Cisplatin to Carboplatin

A

Cisplatin:

  • has an increased overall survival
  • more nausea and vomiting associated with it

Carboplatin:
-more thrombocytopenia and neurotoxicity associated with it

The both have an equal response when used with 3rd gen chemo agents

They both have no difference in neutropenia, alopecia or renal toxicity

12
Q

Who is palliative chemotherapy for and what is the recommended regimen

A
  • its for symptomatic benefits and prolonged survival in patients with stage IIIB & IV
  • recommended regimen is dependent on the type of malignancy and mutations present
13
Q

What is Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)

A
  • it controls cell proliferation and growth

- mutations in Tyrosine Kinase (intracellular domains) result in signalling activation

14
Q

Who are EGFR mutations common in

A
  • adenocarcinoma
  • non smoker
  • females
  • asian patients
15
Q

What is the targeted treatment for EGFR mutations (called EGFR inhibitors)

A
  • Erlotinib
  • Gefitinib
  • Osimertinib
16
Q

What is the most common EGFR inhibitor side-effect and what is the management of it

A

-skin rash - within 1st week of treatment

Management

  • avoid irritants
  • antibiotics
  • liberal application of emollients
  • avoid exposure to the sun
17
Q

What does Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) receptor positive NSCLC mean

A
  • An inversion in chromosome 2 juxtaposes the 5’ end EML4 gene with the 3’ end of ALK gene
  • means the patient has an abnormal fusion of the ALK oncogene and another oncogene EML4
18
Q

Who are ALK receptor mutations common in

A
  • non/light smokers
  • younger age
  • adenocarcinoma with singlet ring
19
Q

What is the targeted treatment for ALK receptor mutations

A
  • Alectinib - 1st line
  • Certinib
  • Crizotinib
20
Q

What monoclonal antibodies inhibit the PD-1 pathway and how does it occur

A
  • Nivolumab
  • Pembrolizumab

PD-1 is an inhibitory receptor expressed on activated T&B cells
-in normal cells it dampen the immune response when exposed to antigen

  • in malignancies there is an over expression in PD-1 ligands
  • PD-1 binds to PD-1 ligands and turn off immune response so the T-cell won’t fight against the tumour

So Pembrolizumab:

  • inhibits lymphocytes PD-1 receptors, and blocks the ligands that would deactivate it and prevent an immune response.
  • This allows the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.
21
Q

What is Nintedinib

A

-It is a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor

It blocks 3 receptor classes that promotes angiogenesis and tumour growth

  • Vascular EGFR
  • Fibroblast growth factor receptors
  • Platelet-derived growth factors (alpha and beta)

-licence for use with docetaxel for NSLC after 1st line chemo

22
Q

Where does SCLC highly metastasis to

A

the brain

23
Q

What is the staging for SCLC and when is treatment initiated

A

Limited stage:

  • 12 weeks - no treatment
  • 12 months - chemotherapy

Extensive stage:

  • 6 weeks - no treatment
  • 8 months - chemotherapy
24
Q

What is the treatment for limited stage disease with good performance status of SCLC

A

-combined chemotherapy + thoracic radiotherapy

25
Q

What is the treatment for extensive stage disease of SCLC

A
  • chemotherapy is the main modality of treatment
  • radiotherapy
  • prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) - decreases risk of brain metastasis
26
Q

What is the 1st and 2nd line chemotherapy used in SCLC

A

1st line chemo:

  • carboplatin
  • etoposide

2nd line chemo:

  • topotecan
  • CAV
27
Q

What is the ‘6-month’ rule for treatment of SCLC

A

if sustained response occurs above or by 6 months then 1st line regimen can be reused

28
Q

How is Carboplatin dosed

A

-Based entirely on RENAL function

29
Q

What are some palliative care issues with Lung cancer

A
  • Breathlessness
  • Pain
  • Haemoptysis
  • Stridor
  • Bone metastasis
  • Superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO)
  • Hypercalcaemia - associated with damage to bones
30
Q

Complications of Lung cancer

A
  • nerve compression
  • SVCO
  • Pleural effusion
  • Dysphasia
  • Bone pain