Treatments

Question 1

what are the 4 intents of treatments

Answer 1

• radical therapy
• palliative therapy
• adjuvant therapy
• neoadjuvant therapy

Question 2

what is radical therapy

Answer 2

curative intent which aims to eradicate a tumour

Question 3

what is palliative therapy

Answer 3

non-curative therapy which aims to reduce symptoms and prolong life

Question 4

palliative intent ____ at the expense of significant side effects
(options = is OR is not)

Answer 4

is not

Question 5

what is adjuvant therapy

Answer 5

occurs after surgery and aimed to reduce risk of reoccurrence

Question 6

what is neoadjuvant therapy

Answer 6

before surgery and aims to shrink the cancer before removal

Question 7

what are the possible treatment endpoints

Answer 7

• overall survival
• disease free survival
• progression free survival
• local control

Question 8

what is overall survival

Answer 8

time alive

Question 9

what is disease free survival

Answer 9

time without any symptoms or signs of cancer

Question 10

what is progression free survival

Answer 10

time living with cancer but it’s not getting any worse

Question 11

what is local control

Answer 11

time without reoccurrence or progression at specific tumour site

Question 12

what is the best treatment option for cancer

Answer 12

surgery

Question 13

what are some non-surgical cancer treatments

Answer 13

• radiotherapy
• brachytherapy
• radionuclide therapy

Question 14

what is brachytherapy

Answer 14

uses gamma rays

Question 15

what are some systemic anti-cancer therapies

Answer 15

chemotherapy and immunotherapy

Question 16

What are possible agents used for chemotherapy? there are 6 :0

Answer 16

• Alkylating agents
• Platinum Salts
• Anti-metabolites
• Taxanes
• Anthracyclines
• Topoisomerase inhibitor

Question 17

how do alkylating agents work

Answer 17

attach an alkyl group to DNA so checkpoints think its abnormal and thus kill the cell

Question 18

how do platinum salts work

Answer 18

DNA cross-linking

Question 19

what are taxanes

Answer 19

mitotic inhibitors

Question 20

how do anthracyclines work

Answer 20

interfere with enzymes for DNA copying

Question 21

how does topoisomerase work

Answer 21

prevents DNA unwinding during replication

Question 22

what are some general side effects of chemotherapy

Answer 22

malaise, fatigue and lethargy

Question 23

what are some more specific chemotherapy side effects

Answer 23

• Alopecia
• Diarrhoea and nausea
• Anaemia
• Fertility changes
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Renal problems

Question 24

is menopause a side effect of chemotherapy

Answer 24

yes!!

Question 25

what is the mechanism of radiotherapy

Answer 25

it causes double stranded DNA break

Question 26

how is radiotherapy prescribed

Answer 26

is prescribed in Grays and given in small does

Question 27

what are some acute side effects of radiotherapy

Answer 27

- fatigue - erythema - head and neck pain - Oesophagitis

Question 28

what are some late side effects of radiotherapy (months after)

Answer 28

- ulceration of skin - dysphagia - incontinence - infertility - menopause

Question 29

can radiotherapy cause secondary cancers

Answer 29

yes

Question 30

what is an example of a targeted drug used for cancer treatment

Answer 30

monoclonal antibodies

Question 31

what is an example of a receptor targeted by monoclonal antibodies

Answer 31

HER2