Unit 2: Cancer Types and Treatments

Question 1

Tretinoin (used historically to treat acne) is used to treat what cancer?

Answer 1

Acute myelocytic leukemia

Question 2

Main form of cancer in childhood

Answer 2

ALL = Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Question 3

What do the most common form of relapse for ALL?

Answer 3

CNS relapse, as circulating leukemia cells often migrate to sanctuary sites in brain and testes

Question 4

Most common leukemia of adults

Answer 4

AML = Acute myelogenous leukemia

Question 5

Common treatment for AML

Answer 5

Cytarabine + an anthracycline

Question 6

Bone marrow transplant is used for AML in what situation?

Answer 6

Younger patients who can tolerate high intensity chemotherapy (brings near death) and have an HLA-matched donor

Question 7

When is CML (chronic myelogenous leukemia) treated?

Answer 7

When WBCs are greater than 50,000/microliter

Question 8

Goals of CML treatment

Answer 8

Reduce granulocytes to normal
Raise HGB to normal
Relieve disease-related symptoms

Question 9

What is the standard first-line therapy for untreated CML?

Answer 9

Imatinib (tyrosine kinase inhibitor)

Generally well-tolerated with minor adverse effects

Question 10

Which alkylating agents are often used for CLL?

Answer 10

Chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide

Question 11

For CLL, COP stands for…?

Answer 11

Cyclophosphamide
Vincristine
and
Prednisone

Question 12

For CLL, CHOP stands for…?

Answer 12

Cyclophosphamide,
Doxorubicin,
Vincristine, 
& 
Prednisone

Question 13

What kind of drug is Rituxumab?

Answer 13

anti-CD20 antibody

Question 14

How is Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treated?

Answer 14

Stage I and IIA: combination chemo and radiation

Stage III & IV: regimen containing anthracycline; 4 cycles of ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine)

Question 15

What virus is found in up to 80% of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma specimens?

Answer 15

Epstein-Barr virus

Question 16

What condition is treated with thalidomide?

Answer 16

Multiple Myeloma

Question 17

What are some common symptoms of multiple myeloma?

Answer 17

Bone pain, bone fractures, anemia, increased susceptibility to infections

Question 18

How is multiple myeloma treated?

Answer 18

MP protocol: melphalan and prednisone

Question 19

How long are Brest cancer patients on Tamoxifen?

Answer 19

5 years

Question 20

What should be prescribed (and for what duration) after a postmenopausal woman completes tamoxifen treatment?

Answer 20

Aromatase inhibitor for at least 2.5 years

Question 21

What is the focus for stage IV breast cancer?

Answer 21

Symptom management

Question 22

Treatment focus for gastric, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers

Answer 22

Usually found late, after metastasis has occurred; treatment is usually palliative

Question 23

Hepatocellular cancer occurs most often in who?

Answer 23

Patients who have consumed a lot of alcohol or who have hepatitis C

Question 24

Who gets monitored (and how often) for liver cancer?

Answer 24

Patients with cirrhosis

u/s every 6 months

Question 25

What kind of lung cancer is most prevalent?

Answer 25

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Question 26

What is the most aggressive form of lung cancer?

Answer 26

Small cell lung cancer

Question 27

What is often true with ovarian cancer?

Answer 27

Found when it is more advanced; treatment tends to be palliative

Question 28

Who does testicular cancer most often affect?

Answer 28

Young men in their 20s because testosterone is at its peak

Question 29

Many drugs cannot be used for brain cancer due to the blood-brain barrier. What are some medications that CAN be used?

Answer 29

Carmustine

or lomisyine with procarbazine and vincristine (PCV regimen)