Colon Cancer Flashcards
What are risk factors for colon cancer?
Age >50 Polyps (adenomatous) Genetic predisposition FH of colorectal cancer T2DM, metabolic syndrome Personal history Lifestyle factors
What are the genetic risk factors for colon cancer?
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)
What is FAP?
Mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene
How does FAP present?
Large # of polyps in colon/rectum between ages 5-40
What will happen if FAP is left untreated?
100% risk for cancer
What is HNPCC?
Mutation in DNA mismatch-repair (MMR) genes
What are the most common mutations responsible for HNPCC?
MLH1
MSH2
PMS2
What lifestyles are RFs for colorectal cancer?
Obesity Physical inactivity Moderate-heavy EtOH Long-term smoking High consumption of red/processed meat Low intake of fiber/fruits and vegetables
What are some possible protective factors?
Diet (high fiber/fruit and vegetables)
Calcium and Vitamin D
NSAIDs, low dose ASA
Surgical resection in extremely high risk patients
What is considered Average risk for colorectal cancer?
Age > 50
No h/o adenoma, colorectal cancer, or IBD
What are methods for colorectal cancer screening?
FOBT/FIT
Endoscopy
Radiology-based techniques
Stool DNA test
What are the types endoscopic imaging?
Sigmoidoscopy
Colonoscopy
What are the types of radiology-based techniques?
CT
Double contrast basrium enema
What is the FDA approved stool DNA test?
Cologuard
Which methods of colorectal cancer screening find polyps and cancer?
Flexible sigmoidoscopy
Colonoscopy
Double contrast barium enema
CT colonography
What methods of colorectal cancer screening find cancer only?
FOBT
FIT
Stool DNA test
What is the tier 1 recommendation for average risk?
Colonoscopy every 10 years
Annual fecal immunochemical test
What is the tier 2 recommendation for average risk?
CT colonography every 5 years
FIT-fecal DNA every 3 years
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5-10 years
What is the tier 3 recommendation for average risk?
Capsule colonoscopy every 5 years
What is the clinical presentation of colorectal cancer?
Changes in bowel habits GI (N/V, discomfort, bloating, fullness, cramps, ab pain, ascites) Rectal bleeding/blood in stool Fatigue Wt loss Leg edema/pain Back pain w/lymph node involvement Hepatomegaly, jaundice, possibly LFTs with metastatic disease
How do we work up a patient with suspected colon cancer?
Hx and PE Baseline labs Radiography PET Biopsy Monitoring therapy
Why is a PET used for when working up a patient?
Can confirm metastatic disease
When is a PET scan used?
If standard imaging studies are inconclusive
What mutations are we looking for during a biopsy?
RAS
BRAF
How do we monitor therapy in colon cancer?
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
What is CEA?
an ‘oncofetal’ protein
When is CEA expressed?
In embryos and in many carcinomas, particularly GI cancers
Can CEA be used for diagnosis?
No
Insensitive and nonspecific
What does a positive CEA correlate to?
Amount of tumor Differentiation of tumor Residual disease Recurrence Poor survival
What is CEA good for?
Monitoring response to therapy and progression of disease