Cancer Treatment Intent

Question 1

4 indications for chemo?

Answer 1

Mets
Adjuvant therapy
Primary therapy (neoadjuvant)
Chemoprevention

Question 2

Palliative chemo - indication?

Treatment should be well tolerated and aim to minimise adverse effects - so LOW DOSE THERAPY

Answer 2

Widespread Mets

The goal is to improve symptoms and improve quality of life

Question 3

Adjuvant Chemo - describe?

Goal?

Greater toxicity accepted as chasing cure of cancer - so HIGH DOSE THERAPY

Answer 3

In addition to another intervention - done AFTER surgery

Removes micrometastatic disease that remains

Question 4

Neoadjuvant chemo - describe?

Answer 4

Primary therapy - done BEFORE surgery

Reduces tumour bulk to allow for resection, improves the fitness of the patient

Question 5

Chemoprevention?

Low incidence of toxicity

Answer 5

Treatment used in selective at risk groups to PREVENT the development of cancer

Question 6

Evaluation of Treatment:

Define disease-free survival

What criteria is used to measure response?

What is measurable disease and non-measurable disease?

Answer 6

Disease-free survival is the length of time after treatment for cancer during which a patient survives with no symptoms or signs of the disease

RECIST - response evaluation criteria in solid tumours

Measurable - a lesion or node that can be analysed by CT/MRI
Non-measurable - more subjective - tumour markers, presence of ascites or effusions