Oncology Principles

Question 1

What does ‘p’ and ‘py’ in front of the TNM classification mean?

Answer 1

‘p’ means that the staging was performed by the pathologist, while ‘yp’ means that chemotherapy was used preoperatively.

Question 2

What are the stages of the TNM system?

Answer 2

T 0-4, N 0-3, M 0-1

Question 3

What is definitive vs. Adjuvant therapy?

Answer 3

Definitive is the main treatment. In solid tumors with local spread, the definitive therapy will be surgery. Adjuvant therapy is usually chemotherapy to eradicate micrometastases.

Question 4

What are common treatment outcome terms in oncology?

Answer 4

Disease-free survival means being alive and cancer free. Response rate is tumor shrinkage. Partial response is usually greater than 50% reduction in size while complete response is resolution of all visible tumor. Therapeutic benefit is when disease is stabilized even without shrinkage.

Question 5

What is the most common toxic effect of VEGF inhibitors Bevacizumab, sunitinib, and sorafenib?

Answer 5

Hypertension. Other effects include hand-foot syndrome, and thrombotic/bleeding complications, and abdominal perforations.

Question 6

What are common effects of of EGFR inhibitors?

Answer 6

Acne-like eruption on the face, scalp, and trunk that can be pruritic or painful. May also cause periorbital or ankle edema.

Question 7

What are common side effects of aromatase inhibitors?

Answer 7

Hot flushes, joint stiffness, bone loss.