Session 1 Review_ Intro and Immunotherapy Flashcards
Review from 2/12/25 Session (46 cards)
What does staging refer to in solid tumor oncology?
Refers to how large the primary tumor is (T), whether the cancer is spreading to lymph nodes (N), and whether it has metastasized (M). Most common criteria used: TNM
Staging at diagnosis is the most important predictor of survival.
Importance of staging at time of diagnosis
Predicts survival, guides treatment (curative vs. palliative)
What is grading in the context of solid tumors?
Description of the cellular characteristics of a malignancy, usually via microscope. The higher the grade, the more aggressive the cancer.
What characterizes a low-grade tumor?
Retains many characteristics of the originating cell type, associated with less aggressive behavior and more favorable prognosis.
What is histology?
The study of tissue under the microscope to identify the type of cells the cancer originated from.
Central to diagnosing a cancer.
What are molecular studies in oncology?
Includes techniques like FISH, chromosomal microarray analysis, cytogenetic analysis, and Next Generation Sequencing, Oncomine.
Ways to identify targetable mutations like oncogenes.
What is immunohistochemistry (IHC)?
Identifies specific proteins expressed on tissue. Exploits the specific binding between an antibody and antigen.
What is germline testing?
Testing that looks at healthy DNA from a patient’s blood for inherited genetic changes.
Define advanced cancer
Cancer unlikely to be cured, including all metastatic cancers and some stage IIIb non-small cell lung cancers.
What is immunotherapy?
Therapy that enhances the immune system’s ability to kill tumor cells.
What is chemotherapy?
Cytotoxic treatment that kills cells at different parts of the cell cycle.
What is a partial response (PR) in cancer treatment?
At least 30% decrease in lesions without new lesions
Based on RECIST criteria
What defines complete response (CR) ?
Disappearance of all lesions with normalization of tumor marker levels.
Based on RECIST criteria
What is overall survival?
Time from treatment initiation until death.
What is progression-free survival?
Time from treatment initiation until disease progression or worsening OR death
What are the 3 most common side effects of immunotherapy?
Dermatologic toxicities (rash), GI Toxicities (diarrhea), Musculoskeletal toxicities (Myalgias/Arthralgias)
What is maintenance therapy?
is usually long-term and aims to sustain disease control and prolong survival. So this doesn’t always mean the cancer is gone - but maybe it’s stable, and the goal here is to keep it stable.
What is adjuvant therapy?
Treatment given after surgical intervention.
What is neoadjuvant therapy?
Treatment given before surgical intervention.
What is Salvage Therapy?
Therapy that is put together after the initial lines were ineffective.
Typically palliative in nature (for advanced solid-tumor cancers)
What is Definitive Treatment?
Goal is Curative or to achieve Remission
What is Consolidative therapy?
short-term therapy and aims to deepen the response post-initial treatment, aiming to improve progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS)
What is considered disease progression (PD) in cancer?
When the lesions have increased in size by at least 20% or there are new lesions on scans
Based on RECIST criteria
What is considered stable disease (SD)?
Lesions may be the same or slightly smaller or slightly larger, but does not fit criteria for PR, CR, or PD. And no new lesions
Based on RECIST criteria
