1B lung cancer Flashcards
Describe the epidemiology of lung cancer
- 3rd most common cancer in UK
- Leading cause of cancer death
Who gets lung cancer more often?
- Age- peak is 75-90
- Sex- M>F
- Lower socioeconomic status
- Smoking history- duration, intensity, when stopped
What other factors than smoking contribute to lung cancer?
10-15% patients with lung cancer never smoked
- Passive smoking is 15% of these
- Chronic lung diseases (COPD, fibrosis)
- Asbestos- exposure increases risk up to x2
- Radon e.g. silver miners in Germany in 1800s
- Indoor cooking fumes- wood smoke, frying fats
- Immunodeficiency
- Familial/genetic- several loci identified
What are the four main types of lung cancer?
- Squamous cell carcinoma (30%)
- Adenocarcinoma (40%)
- Large cell lung cancer (15%)
- Small cell lung cancer (15%)
Where does squamous cell carcinoma originate from?
Bronchial epithelium, centrally located
Where do adenocarcinomas originate from?
Mucus-producing glandular tissue- more peripherally located
Most common lung cancer from 80s onwards
What is large cell lung cancer?
Heterogenous group, undifferentiated
Where does small cell lung cancer originate?
From pulmonary neuroendocrine cells.
Highly malignant.
What are squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell lung cancer often grouped as?
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Describe the pathogenesis of lung cancer
- Lung cancer may arise from all differentiated and undifferentiated cells
- The interaction between inhaled carcinogens and the epithelium of upper and lower airways leads to the formation of DNA adducts: pieces of DNA covalently bound to a cancer-causing chemical
- Persisting DNA adducts/misrepaired adducts result in a mutation and can cause genomic alterations.
What important oncogenes are there that have mutations commonly in lung cancer?
- Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase
- Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase
- c-ROS oncogene 1 (ROS1) receptor tyrosine kinase
- BRAF (downstream cell-cycling signalling mediator)
What is EGFR tyrosine kinase common in?
- 15-30% of adenocarcinoma
- More common in women, Asian, never-smokers
What is ALK tyrosine kinase common in?
- 2-7% of NSCLC
- Especially in younger patients and never smokers
What is ROS1 receptor tyrosine kinase common in?
- 1-2% of NSCLC
- Especially in younger patients and never smokers
What is BRAF common in?
- 1-3% of NSCLC
- Especially in smokers
What are the key symptoms of lung cancer?
- Cough
- Breathlessness
- Chest pain
- Haemoptysis (coughing up blood)
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
Frequently asymptomatic
What features are there of advanced/metastatic lung cancer?
- Neurological features- focal weakness, seizures, spinal cord compression
- Bone pain
- Paraneoplastic syndromes- clubbing, hypercalcaemia, hyponatraemia, Cushing’s
What common sites of lung cancer metastases are there?
- Bones
- Liver
- Brain
- Lymph nodes
- Adrenal glands
What are the clinical signs of lung cancer?
- Clubbing
- Horner’s syndrome
- Superior vena cava obstruction (Pemberton’s sign)
- Cachexia
What clinical sign of lung cancer does this image show?
Clubbing
What is this syndrome?
Horner’s syndrome
Apical lung tumour at top of lung and compresses thoracic outlet, reducing sympathetic supply to face.
Causes:
- ptosis
- miosis
- anhidrosis
What does this image show?
Pemberton’s sign
Compression of superior vena cava in neck
If you raise arms, you increase venous return which causes swelling and redness in face
What does this image show?
Cachexia
Describe the diagnosis strategy for lung cancer
- Establish most likely diagnosis
- Establish fitness for investigation and treatment
- Confirm diagnosis via tissue specimen- specific type of cancer if considering systemic treatment
- Confirm staging
What does the bottom right show?
Pleural effusion- this counts as metastatic lung cancer since pleura is different tissue from lung
What are the black dots in the top left image patient’s lung?
Emphysema
What are the blobs on the liver of the middle patient?
Metastases
Why are PET scans used for lung cancer?
Most useful to exclude occult metastases (metastases that are initially undetected)
Describe how lung biopsies are done?
1) Choose method based on accessibility, availability and impact on staging
2) Bronchoscopy for tumours of central airway where tissue staging not important
What is EBUS[TBNA]?
- Endobronchial ultrasound and transbronchial-needle aspiration of mediastinal lymph nodes (EBUS [TBNA])
- To stage mediastinum with or without achieving tissue diagnosis
What is CT-guided lung biopsy?
- Needle put through chest wall to take tissue sample
- Done to access peripheral lung tumours
- For bronchoscopy, tumour has to be central near airway