29_30_Lung Cancer Flashcards
What are the main causes of lung cancer?
- Smoking,
- air pollution,
- radon,
- asbestos,
- nickel,
- other carcinogenic substances.
What are the histological manifestations of lung cancer?
- Epithelial tumors,
- soft tissue sarcoma,
- mesothelial tumors,
- metastases.
What are the two main histological types of lung cancer?
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
What is the most common histological type of lung cancer?
Adenocarcinoma.
In what population is adenocarcinoma more common?
non-smokers, women, and young patients
What is the most important treatment for small cell lung cancer?
Chemotherapy.
Is surgery a part of the treatment protocol for small cell lung cancer?
No.
What is the first choice of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer in early stages?
Surgery.
What is the treatment for non-small cell lung cancer in stage IIIB and IV?
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
What is the targeted therapy used for non-small cell lung cancer?
Immune therapy.
What is the first step in molecular pathology for tumor examination?
Taking a sample (e.g. by using bronchoscopy) and sending it for histological examination.
What is the purpose of immunohistochemistry in molecular pathology?
To determine the origin of the tumor (primary or metastatic) and the histological type (SCLC or NSCLC).
Which genes are examined for mutations in adenocarcinoma?
ALK, BRAF, KRAS, EGFR genes.
ALK : anaplastic lymphoma kinase
What is the method used for examining mutations in adenocarcinoma?
NGS (next generation sequencing).
What is the targeted therapy used for squamous cell carcinoma?
EGFR inhibitors, anti-VEGF, KRAS inhibitors, BRAF inhibitors.
What are the local symptoms of lung cancer?
- Cough with sputum,
- coughing up blood,
- dyspnea if the tumor causes pleural fluid or obstructs a bigger bronchus,
- chest pain if the tumor invades the pleura,
- Horner’s syndrome if the tumor is in the apex of the lung,
- SVC syndrome if the tumor compresses the SVC.
What is Horner’s syndrome?
Seenin 50% of patients with pancoast tumors (tumors in apex)