Neoplasia V + VI Flashcards
Describe TNM staging system.
T= size of primary tumour, N= extent of regional lymph node involvement, M- metastatic spread via the blood.
Describe the 1 to 4 tumour stage.
Stage 1= early local disease
Stage 2= advanced local disease
Stage 3= regional metastasis
Stage 4= advanced disease with distant metastasis
Describe grading and the stages.
Grade describes the degree of differentiation of a neoplasm. G1= well-differentiated, G2= moderately differentiated, G3= poorly differentiated, G4= undifferentiated or anaplastic.
What are some examples of treatment?
Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy
What does adjuvant mean?
Treatment is given after surgical removal of a primary tumour to eliminate subclinical disease.
What does neoadjuvant mean?
Treatment is given after surgical excision to reduce the size of the primary tumour.
What are the types of radiation therapy and briefly describe them.
External beam radiotherapy- external machine aims radiation at the cancer. Internal radiation therapy- source of radiation is put inside the body.
Describe hormone therapy.
Bind to oestrogen receptors, therefore preventing oestrogen from binding. An example is tamoxifen.
Examples of targeted drugs for cancer cells.
Trastuzumad, Imatinib
Describe immunotherapy and how we know the immune system is responding to the tumour.
Detects and destroys abnormal cells and most likely prevents or curbs the growth of many cancers. Tumour infiltrating lymphocytes are a sign that the immune system is responding to the tumour.
What are the types of immunotherapy?
Immune checkpoint inhibitor, T-cell transfer therapy, monoclonal antibodies, treatment vaccines, immune system modulators
What’s the use of measuring tumour markers?
Sometimes for diagnosis, most useful for monitoring tumour burden during treatment and follow-up. Assess response to therapy, assess recurrence.
Examples and brief description of tumour markers.
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG)- testicular tumours and choriocarcinoma. Alpha fetoprotein- hepatocellular carcinoma and germ cell tumours. Prostate specific antigen (PSA)- prostate carcinoma.
What cancer screening programmes are available in the UK?
Breast screening, cervical screening, bowel screening
