Oncology

Question 1

What is the KI 67 index?

Answer 1

Scale of 0-100 representing how fast the cancer is growing (mitosis). The lower the slower. So small cell cancer of the lung would be quite high, whereas non small cell cancers would be lower

Question 2

How does PD-1 or PDL-1 inhibitors work?

Answer 2

Normal call presents PDL 1 (programmed death ligand 1) to the PD 1 part on T cells.
This stops the T cell from killing the normal cell. Aka Checkpoint inhibition.

Some cancer types also present PDL 1.

Pd 1 or PDL 1 inhibitors block the receptors and allow the T cells to kill the cancer cells

Question 3

CTLA 4 is what type of protein ?

Answer 3

Check point inhibitors- therefore used in immunotherapy for cancer

Question 4

What types of Immunotherapy are there for cancers?

Answer 4

• Checkpoint inhibitors eg PD1, PDL1 inhibitors
• Adoptive cellular therapy eg CAR T/NK therapies (Chimeric antigen receptor) T cell/NK cells added in to specifically target the cancer cells, TIL therapy (Tumour infiltrating lymphocyte) - but of tumour taken out, T cells made to react, and grown hen re put back into patient
• monoclonal antibodies (mark up the cancer)
• cytokine therapy eg Inf alpha
• cancer vax (part of cancer injected to give the immune system a shove up the backside)

Question 5

What grading scale can we use for patients functional abilities?

Answer 5

ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) - rating of limitations 0-5
0 = fully fit
1 = mild limitations of strenuous activity
2 = up most of the time (more than 50% of day), can self care
3 = sat down or lying down most of the time (more than 50%), limited self care
4 = bed bound
5= dead