Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

FINAL YEAR PHARMACY > CANCER- PROSTATE CANCER > Flashcards

CANCER- PROSTATE CANCER Flashcards

1
Q

What are the risk factors of prostate cancer?

A

AGE (strongest risk factor)

Race
Genetic: 2-3 fold increased risk if a 1st degree relative affected

Androgens

Diet that’s high in fat and red meat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What may protect males from prostate cancer??

A

Frequent ejaculation

Diet high in lycopenes (tomatoes!!)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Prostate cancers start out as adenocarcinomas. What is an ADENOCARCINOMA? Also seen in other cancers such as breast cancer.

A

A type of tumour that has a GLANDULAR origin.
This is why we see it in cancers such as breast cancer (this has glands) oesophageal cancer (glands in neck) and prostate cancer (due to prostate gland)

So in prostate cancer it starts in the prostate gland then can metastasise to the bones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Where does prostate cancer usually metastasise to??

A

The bones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is grading of prostate cancer based on?

A

TNM staging

Of Gleason score

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

A

Hesitancy to wee

Post urination dribbling

Increased Frequency

Increased urgency

Nocturia (weeing in the night)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How common is prostate cancer?

A

It’s the most common cancer in men

Only 32% of all cases actually get diagnosed! men can actually die with it without knowing, the disease can either lay dormant or be very aggressive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the metastatic symptoms of prostate cancer (i.e. if it has metastasised to the bones and lymph nodes)?

A 
Bone pain
Hypercalceamia
Spinal cord compression
sciatica (pain in the sciatica nerve in the leg)
Fracture
Lymphoedema (swollen lymph nodes)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How can we diagnose prostate cancer?

A

Digital rectal examination- examiner feels inside rectum for the prostate. Gives us an idea of the size of the prostate, its firmness (how hard it is) and any nodules. Not a very accurate test

PSA level (prostate specific antigen)

Transurethral ultrasound (more accurate than a digital rectal exam, but overall accuracy for cancer detection is low)

CT/ MRI scan- to look for metastases sites

Radio labelled bone scanning: sensitive and specific to detect bone metastases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is PSA and what can it tell us?

A

Prostate specific antigen. It is a glycoprotein secreted by prostatic cells to aid the Liquification of semen.
PSA leaks through cancer cell membrane into the circulation!
So with prostate cancer we will see increased PSA levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How accurate is a PSA level test?

A

Fairly accurate but Up to 20% of men with prostate cancer will not have raised PSA levels

PSA can also be used to monitor patients before and after treatment to assess their response!! If their PSA level is coming down it means they are responding to cancer treatment :)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

one of the treatment options for prostate cancer is “watchful waiting”. What is this?

A

Used for well-differentiated localised cancer in patients who are elderly who have under 10 years life expectancy or significant co morbidities that may be affected by treatment.
Involves observation and PSA level monitoring but not treatment.

Its basically just leaving the cancer alone as they will probably die of something else before the cancer kills them. Only treat if the cancer progresses.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

When is surgery used in the treatment of prostate cancer?

A

Used for patients with T1 or T2 disease who have at least a 10 YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Surgery for prostate cancer involves a Radical Prostatectomy. what is this?

A

Removal of the prostate and sometimes the pelvic lymph nodes.

good prognosis: 85% disease free survival at 10 years!!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

When is radiation given to prostate cancer patients?

A

For patients who are not suitable for surgery but had a GOOD LIFE EXPECTANCY and localised disease (not metastasised)

Can also be used as symptom control in advanced disease and bony metastasis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the side effects of Radical Prostatectomy (the surgery done in prostate cancer)?

A

Erectile dysfunction
Incontinence

(can also happen with the radiation treatment but this is less common)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Brachytherapy is used as a primary therapy or in combo with radiotherapy. What is BRACHYTHERAPY?

A

Radioactive pellets are implanted into the prostate gland

The pellets emit a low dose of radiation over several weeks/ months

Quite uncomfortable procedure to get these in so patients need anaesthesia

18
Q

When are hormonal therapies used in Prostate cancer?

A

Used for locally advanced and metastatic cancer

19
Q

What is the role of androgens in Prostate cancer?

A

Androgens: Testosterone produced in testes, androgens produced in adrenal glands
These are metabolised to DHT which is an active metabolite that can stimulate prostate cancer to grow.

Hormone therapies can block the androgen drive that sustains most prostate cancers.

20
Q

How do hormonal therapies work?

A

They BLOCK THE ANDROGEN DRIVE that sustains prostate cancers.

Can use LHRH analogues. LHRH is Luteinizing Hormone Release Hormone: stimulates the release of LH which in turn controls the release of testosterone from the testes.

LHRH is released in a pulsatile manner and has a short half life. This means that LHRH receptors will become desensitised if they are permanently occupied.

So we can use LHRH analogues to permanently occupy and desensitise receptors and cause less testosterone to be released from the testes. Less androgens= cancer shrinks

21
Q

Can you think of an example of an LHRH analogue??

A

Goserelin

Triptorelin

Initially increases LH release and then decreases LH and therefore testosterone, due to desensitisation of the LHRH receptors.

22
Q

Hormonal therapies such as Goserelin (an LHRH analogue) can cause an initial increase in LH release. What can this cause?

A

The initial Increase in LH can cause and initial increase in tumour size “tumour flare”

This can worsen symptoms if its not blocked
Therefore Androgen blocking drugs (e.g. Bicalutamide and cytoperone) can be given for the first few weeks or continued after Goserelin finished.

23
Q

What is a Bilateral Orchidectomy?

A

Removal of the testicle
Stops androgens (testosterone) being produced
Stops cancer growth
although its not a popular option!!

24
Q

Can you think of any Androgen blockers (anti androgen drugs)?

A

Bicalutamide

Cyproterone

These work by competing with DHT (active metabolite that stimulates cancer growth) at receptor level. So there are no active metabolites to stimulate cancer cell growth!

25
Q

How can we achieve maximum Androgen blockage?

A

Use a COMBINATION of LHRH analogues and anti androgen drugs.
But no definite proven benefit been shown yet

26
Q

What are the side effects of hormonal therapies?

A 
Erectile dysfunction
Loss of Libido (sex drive)
Gynaecomastia (men grow breasts)
Breast tenderness
Hot flushes
Depression/mood changes
Fatigue

So its like the menopause for men!!

27
Q

When is chemotherapy indicated in prostate cancer?

A

When it has metastasised
When there is no response to hormonal therapy

usually Old men with this type of cancer so chemotherapy not really looked to that often

28
Q

What are the two common chemotherapy drug combinations to use in prostate cancer?

A

Docetaxel and Prednisolone

Mixtoxantrone and Prednisolone

29
Q

How does Docetaxel work??

A

Its a taxol- we saw it with Threadgill: bind to taxol-binding sites on the inside surface of microtubules.
It disrupts micro-tubular network of cells during cell division
Mitosis can no longer occur
Cell death

It is NICE approved for ‘Hormone refractory metastatic prostate cancer’

30
Q

What are the side effects of the Docetaxel and Prednisolone chemotherapy combo?

A

Bone marrow suppression
SEVERE alopecia
Nausea and Vomitting (but Low emetogenicity)

Potentially:
Myalgia (muscle pain)
Fluid retention
Hypersensitivity

Can Take Pre-medication Dexamethasone before starting chemo to reduce Myalgia and Fluid retention

31
Q

What should patients due to start docetaxel & prednisolone chemotherapy take 3 days before starting?

A

Dexamethasone (a steroid)

Can lessen some of the side effects

Ensure the patient knows when to take this: 3 days before starting!

32
Q

What should you check before initiating docetaxel & prednisolone chemotherapy?

A

Check BSA (body surface area) and dose against protocol
Check FBC
Neutrophils should be over 1.5, platelets should be over 100 before starting each course!

Check LFTs:
need to decrease Docetaxel dose if Liver function is impaired

33
Q

What should be done for nausea and vomitting with docetaxel and prednisolone chemotherapy?

A

This chemo regimen is mildly emetogenic

But with any mildly emetogenic or moderate emetogenic chemo, ANTIEMETICS should be prescribed.
E.g. Metochlopramide or domperidone

34
Q

ABIRATERONE is a new oral androgen inhibitor used in prostate cancer. What sources of androgen production can it inhibit?

A

Androgen production from:
the TESTES
Adrenal gland
Prostate tumour cells

So Abiraterone blocks ALL 3 SOURCES of androgen in the body

35
Q

Abiraterone prolongs overall survival by 3-4 months in patients who have had chemotherapy. (Now licensed to be used before chemo!)

A

It slows the cancer down but doesn’t CURE
It improves Quality of Life

Also gives good reduction in pain

36
Q

What are the SIDE EFFECTS of Abiraterone??

A

Peripheral Oedema (swollen ankles, hands and feet)
Hypokalaemia
Hypertension
UTI’s
Elevated LFT’s: need to monitor every 2 weeks

37
Q

How does the NEW drug ENZALUTAMIDE work?

A

Its an androgen receptor signalling inhibitor (remember androgen signalling is what DRIVES prostate cancer cell growth)
It blocks several steps in the androgen receptor signalling pathway

It inhibits signalling through Blocking androgen receptors (stopping androgen binding), inhibiting nuclear translocation of activated receptors, and inhibiting the association of the activated androgen receptor with DNA

38
Q

When is Enzalutamide licensed?

A

Licensed for treating metastatic prostate cancer where the disease has progressed after DOCETAXEL chemotherapy.

39
Q

What are the side effects of Enzalutamide?

A 
Headache
Hot flush
Memory problems
Visual hallucinations
Risk of seizures (so be careful in epileptics!!) 
[Slightly strange side effects!]
40
Q

Hormon therapy plays a large part in Prostate cancer treatment but many patients eventually become resistant

A

Chemotherapy is used in metastatic prostate cancer in palliative stages (end stages of life)- more for relief of symptoms

Newer drugs Abiraterone and enzalutamide can be used if patient is deemed fit for further treatment following the chemo.

FINAL YEAR PHARMACY (18 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions