Lung Cancer

Question 1

What are some common symptoms of lung cancer?

Answer 1

Cough
Haemoptysis
Wheeze
Dyspnoea
Pneumonia

Question 2

What are some of the paraneoplastic effects produced by lung cancers?

Answer 2

Hypercalcaemia in SCC due to PTHrP production
Cushings in small cell carcinoma due to ACTH production
ADH production in small cell carcinoma
Dermatologic, neural and muscular syndromes in small cell carcinoma
Clubbing and hypertrophic osteoarthropy

Question 3

How is tissue sampling in lung tumours performed?

Answer 3

Sputum sample
Bronchial brush and wash at bronchoscopy
Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)

Question 4

What are the most common types of lung carcinoma?

Answer 4

SCC
Adenocarcinoma
Large cell (undifferentiated) carcinoma
Small cell carcinoma

Question 5

What is the most common type of lung cancer?

Answer 5

Adenocarcinoma most common overall (affects the most non-smokers, other cancers are rare in non-smokers)

Question 6

What is the dysplasia-carcinoma sequence for SCC in the lung?

Answer 6

Goblet cell hyperplasia
Reserve cell hyperplasia
Squamous metaplasia
Squamous dysplasia
Carcinoma in situ
Invasive carcinoma

Question 7

What are the most frequently mutated genes in lung adenocarcinoma?

Answer 7

TP53
K-RAS
STK11
EGFR

Question 8

What are the 2 most clinically important mutations seen in non-small cell carcinomas?

Answer 8

EGFR

ALK

Question 9

What is the result of a mutation in EGFR?

Answer 9

Mutations involving the EGFR tyrosine kinase domain increase its activity (leads to proliferation)

Question 10

Gefitinib

Answer 10

Inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase

Question 11

Erlotinib

Answer 11

Inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase