Oncology: Chemotherapy Flashcards
Define Cure
tumour gone, no further therapy needed
Define complete remission (CR)
no evidence of tumour on physical exam, haematology, biochemistry, or imaging
Define partial remission (PR)
reduction in the sum of the longest diameters of ≥ 30% with no new lesions at 4 weeks
Define stable disease
no change at 4 weeks
Define progressive disease
increase of 20% or more in longest diameter at 4 weeks, or new lesions
Define induction therapy
intensive period to try and reduce the number of cancer cells
Define maintenance chemotherapy
less intensive to maintain remission
Define rescue chemotherapy
re-induction with non first-line agents when one protocol has failed
Define median survival time
(median response duration) = half of patients relapsed or died and half still in remission
Define disease free interval
= time to progression after onset of therapy, eg mets after osteosarcoma amputation
Define adjuvant chemotherapy
= administered after surgery or radiotherapy, usually to limit metastasis formation
Define neoadjuvant chemotherapy
to shrink the mass before surgery or radiotherapy
What is nadir?
point at which lowest white blood cell count occurs
Define maximum tolerated dose
maximum recommended dose of an agent, either at one time or cumulatively
What tumour types have a high sensitivity to chemotherapy
Lymphoma, myeloma and leukaemia
