Treatment of Cancer

Question 1

Cure rates for mastectomy and lumpectomy in breast cancer

Answer 1

mastectomy equals lumpectomy plus radiation

Question 2

Common debilitating complication of axillary nodal dissection

Answer 2

lymphedema of the arm

Question 3

Location of pancreatic cancer that is more difficult to resect and produces symptoms earlier in the course of the disease

Answer 3

mass in the head of the pancreas.

Question 4

Treatment for ovarian carcinoma that improves response to chemo

Answer 4

Debulking surgical intervention

Question 5

Oncologic emergency of the spinal cord

Answer 5

any mass on spinal cord. can lead to paralysis within hours. needs emergent decompressive surgery

Question 6

Important step in evaluating a patient with polycthemia vera

Answer 6

ultrasound to look for renal carcincoma

Question 7

Surgical treatment for bladder cancer

Answer 7

radical cystectomy

Question 8

treatment modality that delivers energy to kill malignant cells in the area specifically targeted

Answer 8

radiation therapy

Question 9

Used for preparatory therapy prior to bone marrow transplant

Answer 9

total body irradiation

Question 10

type of cells most affected by radiation

Answer 10

cells with rapid turnover

Question 11

Limitation of chemo

Answer 11

toxicity to normal tissue

Question 12

treatment given before definitive surgery to shrink mass and allow for less invasive surgical intervention

Answer 12

neoadjuvant therapy

Question 13

What do the following have in common: alkylating agents, antimetabolites, antibiotics, antimitotics, topoisomerase inhibitors?

Answer 13

they are all cytotoxic chemotherapy agents

Question 14

chemo agent class that bridge the strands of DNA and prevent DNA division

Answer 14

alkylating agents

Question 15

Chemo agent that can cause renal tubular damage (kidney failure) and hearling loss

Answer 15

Cisplatin

Question 16

Chemo agent class whose molecules are chemically similar to cellular building blocks. Substitute parts of DNA or RNA

Answer 16

antimetabolites

Question 17

Increased toxicity if ascites or pleural effusion present. Also interacts with proton pump inhibitors

Answer 17

methotrexate

Question 18

Antitumor antibiotic that turns urine ruby red and causes cardiac toxicity

Answer 18

adriamycin

Question 19

Class of chemo agents that impair mitosis by inhibiting microtubule formation

Answer 19

antimitotic agents

Question 20

Type of therapy that activates the immune system to fight cancer cells and can cause fluid retention/pleural effusion

Answer 20

immunetherapies

Question 21

Biologic response modifier. Is an anti-CD20 antibody. Can cause cardiac toxicity, reactivates hepatitis. Used primarily for lymphoma and CLL

Answer 21

rituximab

Question 22

protein present on 90% of B-cell NHL

Answer 22

CD20

Question 23

Rare deadly side effect of rituximab

Answer 23

Progressive multifocal leukoecephelopathy

Question 24

VEGF-blocking humanized monoclonal antibody that has revolutionized treatment of colon cancer. Side effects includes impaired healing, bleeding, thrombosis

Answer 24

Bevacizumab

Question 25

Development of what class of agents has markedly improved the clinical course of CML

Answer 25

TKIs (Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors)

Question 26

Used for metastatic Her2 positive breast cancer and metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal cancer

Answer 26

Herceptin

Question 27

Cancer that responds to immune modulation

Answer 27

melanoma

Question 28

Immune modulator that can cause full endocrine failure (hypopituitarism, hypoadrenalism, hypothyroidism).

Answer 28

Ipilimumab

Question 29

Immune modulator that can cause photosensitivity, rash, and hyperglycemia

Answer 29

BRAF inhibitors

Question 30

Group of patients who gain weight during treatment

Answer 30

breast cancer patients

Question 31

Benefit of second generation (palonosetron) 5-HT3 receptor agonist over 1st generation (ondansantron)

Answer 31

second generation have longer half lives (40 hrs) and no documented QT prolongation

Question 32

Medication that is good for anticipatory nausea

Answer 32

Lorazepam

Question 33

Drugs that help increase appetite or weight gain in cancer patients

Answer 33

megace or corticosteroids

Question 34

Complications of intrathecal methorexate

Answer 34

aseptic meningitis, transverse myelopathy, Leukoencephalopathy

Question 35

Quantification of neutropenia

Answer 35

absolute neutrophril count <500