Block 31 Week 8 Flashcards
Anti-metabolites?
5FU, gemcitabine, capecitabine
alkylating agents?
Cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, carboplatin.
modifying agents of the tertiary structure?
Etoposide, epirubicin
mitotic spindle poisons?
Vincristine
Taxanes?
Paclitaxel, docetaxel
Side effects of chemotherapy?
►Bone marrow suppression
►Alopecia
►Fatigue
►Nausea / vomiting
►Allergic reactions
► Liver / renal toxicity
adjuvant chemotherapy?
Treatment used to mop up micrometastatic disease post surgery in order to prolong surgery e.g. breast, lung and colorectal cancers.
neoadjuvant chemo?
Used to downstage tumours prior surgery e.g. oesophageal and rectal cancers.
curative chemo?
Chemotherapy is used as the sole, or main, modality to cure malignancy e.g. testicular cancers, lymphomas, leukaemias and many paediatric malignancies.
palliative chemo?
Chemotherapy is used to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and prolong life, but is not curative.
acute side effects of chemotherapy (generally reversible)
- Myelosuppression
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Alopecia
- Skin and nail changes
- Local reactions
late (usually irreversible) SE of chemo?
- Neuropathies
- Sterility
- Cardiovascular
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Renal insufficiency
myelosuppression - red cells?
- Lethargy
- Dyspnoea
myelosuppression - platelets?
- Purpura
- Bleeding
infective complications of chemotherapy
?
- Febrile Neutropaenia (Neutrophil < 1.0 x 109/L and Temperature > 38oC)
- Septic Shock (low Blood Pressure)
Management of Neutropaenic sepsis?
- IV fluids
- Broad spectrum antibiotics
chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting?
- first 24 hrs = acute
- delayed = 24 hrs plus
- anticipatory - emesis before chemotherapy is given, triggered by sites or smells associated with chemotherapy administration
alopecia?
- caused by anthracycline and taxanes
- Always reversible
- Can be ameliorated by scalp cooling during the period of chemotherapy administration
chemo induced peripheral neuropathies - drugs?
- Cisplatin, Oxaliplatin
- vinca alkaloids
- Taxanes
sites affected by chemo induced peripheral neuropathies?
- Hands and feet
- Autonomic system
peripheral neuropathies tend to be?
- Tends to be cumulative i.e. get worse with increasing cumulative dose
- Tends to be irreversible
chemo induced sterility?
- Tends to occur when alkylating agents are used.
- For males sperm storage should be offered
which chemo agents most commonly cause cardiac problems?
- anythracyclines most commonly cause cardiac problems- usually CHF
- rare if the dose is kept below the cumulative dose level
which drugs can cause arrhytmias?
Taxanes and Anthracylines can cause arrhythmias
features of bone mets?
- pain
- pathological fractures
- hypercalcaemua
- SCC
mechanism of bone mets?
- activated osteoblasts stimulate production of RANK which activates osteoclasts
- osteoclasts resorb bone -> osteolysis -> release of growth factors for tumour growth
blastic vs lytic bone mets?
- The mechanism of bone metastasis is seen radiologically; when bone-forming processes predominate the lesions appear blastic,
- while if resorptive processes are dominant, the metastases appear lytic.
aggressive mets tend to be?
lytic
which mets show a slower course?
sclerotic (osteoblastic) metastases generally indicate a slower course
3 most common sites of metastasis?
- lungs
- liver
- bone
which cancers metastasise to bone?
- Among solid cancers, breast, prostate, lung, thyroid, and kidney cancer account for 80% of all skeletal metastases.
bone mets commonly present at the time of diagnosis of?
multiple myeloma
clinical presntation of bone mets?
- Pain is the most common symptom
- usually picked up during the staging of the cancer
- scanned for bone mets when there’s elevated ALP or calcium
- when ALP is elevated a fractionated alkaline phosphatase test (liver versus bone) would be indicated
which type of bone mets cause more hypercalcaemia?
osteolytic
bone mets - pain?
- pain may be worse at night and partially alleviated by activity.
- often insidious in onset and progresses but can also be sharp, severe and radiating
- A complication such as invasion of adjacent structures usually results in constant, progressively worsening pain.
sudden severe painw ith bone mets?
- Sudden severe pain may be caused by a pathologic fracture and should be urgently investigated.
- Pathologic fractures are more likely to occur in osteolytic as compared with osteoblastic metastases.
predominantly osteoblastic mets - cancers?
- SCLC
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- prostate
- carcinoid
predom osteolytic bone mets?
- renal cell
- MM
- melanoma
- NSCLC
- NHL
mixed osteoblastic and osteolytic
?
- breast cancer
- GI cancers
XR for bone mets?
- initial screen to evaluate symptomatic areas
- poor sensitivity (TP rate) so generally not used to screen for bone mets
CT for bone mets?
- detect osteolytic and osteoblastic metastases within the bone marrow
- not more sensitive than a bone scan
- shows associated soft tissue disease and provides 3D reconstruction of images helpful for planning RT or surgery
MRI for bone mets?
- more sensitive than CT to detect small meys
- gold standard when MSCC or epidural disease/nerve root impingement is suspected because of the excellent soft tissue resolution.
- It can also show the presence of spinal cord oedema.
- can differentiate between pathological and insufficiency fractures
MRI -?
- sensitive to movement
- ppts with implantable devices not able to undergo
- severe claustophobia
bone scans?
- visualization of the entire skeleton
- tracer accumulates in areas of inc osteoblastic activity
- is reliable for detecting metastases in diseases like prostate and breast cancer.
bone scans are sensitive for?
- sensitive for malignancies like breaast, lung, prostate cancer
- less sensitive for detecting tumours with little to no osteoblastic activity (such as multiple myeloma) and for aggressive lesions with rapid bone destruction
management of bone mets - pain relief?
- analgesics - typically optiods and/ or radiotherapy
- pain specialists may help relieve pain with procedures such as nerve blocks when opioid analgesics are maximized.
management of bone mets - pharmacological?
- Osteoclast inhibitors, such as bisphosphonates and denosumab - RANKL receptor inhibitor
therapeutic options for bone mets?
- Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty - surgeries
- RT
- thermal ablation
- cryoablation
- FUS
Pathological fracture?
- Usually in weight bearing bones.
- Associated with lytic bone metastases.
- Sudden pain and loss of function.
Management of pathological fractures?
- Analgesia, rest & immobilisation.
- Management is mainly surgical.
- Many lesions will require post operative RT.
MSCC - common cancers?
- Breast
- Prostate
- Lung
- Renal
- Myeloma
- Lymphoma
- Melanoma
Pathophys of MSCC
CFs of MSCC?
- pain
- weakness
- bowel/ bladder
- sensation loss
- ataxia
Management of MSCC?
- Analgesia
- dexamethasone
- MRI
- surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy
Chemotherapy?
- inhibits cell proliferation and tumour multiplication
- Affects healthy cells too
hormone therapies - tamoxifen?
oestrogen receptor blockage in breast cancer
hormone therapies - aromatase inhibitors?
inhibition of androgen -> oestrogen conversion in breast cancer
GnRH
Decrease the ovarian production of oestrogen and testicular production of testosterone - breast and prostate cancer
immunotherapies - imatinib?
- targets Bcr-abl
- in CML
hormone therapies -Erlotinib,gefitinib?
- targets EGFR
- in NSCLC
iapatinib?
- Her1 and 2 receptor
- Breast cancer
targeted therapies
- monoclonal antibodies
- cancer growth blockers
- drugs that block cancer blood vessel growth
- PARP inhibitors
decision of cancer treatment?
The decision to use a certain anticancer drug depends on many factors, including the type and location of the cancer, its severity, whethersurgeryorradiation therapycan or should be used, and the side effects associated with the drug.
All cytotoxic drugs except ? cause bone marrow suppression
- All cytotoxic drugs except vincristine sulfate and bleomycincause bone-marrow suppression. This commonly occurs 7 to 10 days after administration,
physical effects of chemo?
- pain
- tiredness
- insomnia
- N & V
- hair loss
- bladder and bowel issues
psychological effects of chemo?
- mood shifts, depression, anxiety
- stress and trouble adjusting to the change in routine
- chemo brain - thinking and memory problems that can happen during and after cancer treatment
- frustration and anger
pancytopenia?
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Pallor
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Recurrent infections.
which patients need to be assessed for paralytic ileus?
- patients receiving vinca alkaloids need to be assessed for paralytic ileus which would present with constipation and absence of bowels sounds, ultra sound may be indicated.
- This is a medical emergency due to the risk of perforation.
what are the vinca alkaloids?
vincristine, vinblastine and vinorelbine)
managing constipation in chemotherapy patients?
- maintaining adequate fluid intake
- maintaining healthy high fibre diet
- gentle exercise
- movicol
- docusate sodium
diarrhoea after chemo Tx?
- linked to 5FU and methotrexate
- loperamide
- coedine phosphate
oral thrush Tx?
- Nystatin suspension
- fluconazole
highly emetic chemo?
- cisplatin and cyclophosphamide
Tx for chemo induced emesis?
- low risk: dexamethasone
- moderate risk: 5-HT3 antagonist
- high risk: dexamethsaone, 5-HT3 antagonost, NK1 antagonist e.g. aprepitant
Ix for bone marrow failure?
- FBC
- peripheral blood film
- haematinics: B12 and folate
- reticulocyte count
- bone profile
- autoimmune screen
- serological tests for infections
- bone marrow biopsy
sepsis recognition?
neutropenic sepsis/ febrile neutropenia - emergency that is considered in those with ?
- low neutrophil count plus
- Temperature ≥ 38°C or
- Other signs or symptoms consistent with significant sepsis
when should neutropenic sepsis be considered?
- recent chemotherapy - commonly within 7-10 days causes neutropenia through BM suppression
- considered in any patient at risk of neutropenia who presents unwell, regardless of temperature bc it can present without fever in some patients including older patients and those taking immunosuppressive medications such as steroids
typical non-specific sepsis symptoms?
- Fatigue
- Feeling warm or cold
- Rigors or shaking
- Feeling sweaty or clammy
- Palpitations
- Dizziness
- Subjective confusion or disorientation
General clinical findingsin neutropenic sepsis may include:
- Haemodynamic instability (e.g. hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnoea, hypoxia)
- Fever
- Reduced urine output
- Altered conscious level or confusion
- Mottled/ashen appearance
sepsis 6 - 3 in?
- O2
- Ab - piperacillin/tazobactam
- IV fluids - 500ml of crystalloid over 15 minutes
sepsis 6 - 3 out?
- blood cultures
- urine output
- lactate
late impacts of chemotherapy?
sleep stages?
- stage 3 - important for restorative sleep
- REM dreaming sleep is 90 min cycle, 25% of total sleep time
role of NREM sleep?
*Restoration and growth
- Immunity to viral infection
role of REM sleep?
*Memory Storage and Retention of memory
*Organization and Reorganization
- New Learning
3 types of sleep disorders?
1.Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
2.Central Sleep Apnoea
3. Mixed Sleep Apnoea
obst sleep apnoea pathway
what happens in OSA?
- narrow upper airway more likely to collapse than a wide upper airway
- OSA patients have narrow upper airways, which can be due tofat depositionin the pharyngeal wall/tongue, orabnormal skeletal features(such as posterior positioning of the mandible).
- During sleep,all muscles relax, including the pharyngeal dilator muscles. This increases the risk of upper airway collapse
Collapse of airways in OSA leads to?
- collapse of the upper airway can cause hypoxaemia and hypercapnia
- This is detected by peripheral chemoreceptors, which stimulate the respiratory control centre in the brainstem and the sympathetic nervous system.
- This leads toarousal from sleepand activation of the pharyngeal dilator muscles, resulting in airway patency.
- if sleep resumes after this the upper airway can collapse again - this cycle can repeat
Risk factorsfor obstructive sleep apnoea include:
- Obesity
- Craniofacial abnormalities (such as posterior positioning of the mandible)
- Increased soft tissue volume (such as adenotonsillar hypertrophy)
- Male sex
- Down’s syndrome
Sx of sleep apnoea?
- Excessive daytime somnolence:
- Chronic morning headache:
- Arousal during sleep with choking/gasping: this may be observed by the patient’s bed partner
- Habitual snoring
- Restless sleep
excessive daytime sleepiness?
this can be quantified using theEpworth sleepiness scale. Patients often wake up feeling unrefreshed.
chronic morning headache?
this could be due to hypercapnia-induced cerebral vasodilation
CE in OSA
- Obesity: leads to large neck circumference
- Craniofacial abnormalities (such as posterior positioning of the mandible)
- Increased soft tissue volume (such as adenotonsillar hypertrophy)
other imp areas of OSA?
- surgical history - tooth extractions and difficult intubations can lead to craniofacial abns
- FHx of OSA
- occupational history: patients with excessive sleepiness for >3 months must inform the DVLA