Oncology Overview with Dr. Siow Tian Rui

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Questions and Answers

What term is used to describe a benign tumor derived from fatty tissue?

Liposarcoma

Fibrosarcoma

Adenocarcinoma

Lipoma (correct)

Which type of tumor is characterized as malignant and derived from epithelial tissue?

Chondroma

Lipoma

Sarcoma

Adenocarcinoma (correct)

What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes malignant tumors from benign tumors?

Benign tumors can metastasize.

Benign tumors are vascularized.

Malignant tumors invade surrounding tissues. (correct)

Malignant tumors cause less local damage.

How is the staging of cancer primarily determined?

By tumor size and metastasis Signup and view all the answers

What would be a likely result of a decrease in leukocytes due to radiation exposure?

Increased risk of infection Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not considered a type of cancer therapy?

Physiotherapy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following classifications of drugs is NOT typically used in chemotherapy?

Analgesics Signup and view all the answers

What is a common adverse effect associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy?

Bone marrow depression Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which cancer cells spread from their original site to other parts of the body called?

Metastasis Signup and view all the answers

What is the nadir in the context of chemotherapy?

The point of lowest cell count Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following tumor types is classified as a sarcoma?

Osteosarcoma Signup and view all the answers

What prefix is used to denote a tumor of connective tissue?

Sarc- Signup and view all the answers

How do chemotherapy drugs primarily exert their effects on tumor cells?

By interfering with protein synthesis or DNA replication Signup and view all the answers

What is the main consequence of tissue necrosis and ulceration in tumors?

Bleeding or infection Signup and view all the answers

How does carcinoma in situ differ from invasive cancer?

It is classified as stage 0 disease Signup and view all the answers

What type of cancer staging system is the TMN system?

A classification process for tumor size and spread Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT contribute to frequent infections in cancer patients?

Increased resistance to pathogens Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of cancer treatment protocols like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation?

To control or eliminate cancer cells Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of metastasis in cancer?

Colon cancer spreading to the liver Signup and view all the answers

What can paraneoplastic syndrome cause?

Hormonal effects and neurological issues Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a basic method of cancer treatment?

Psychotherapy Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes benign tumours from malignant tumours in terms of cell characteristics?

Malignant tumours do not form encapsulations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a feature of malignant tumours?

Infiltration into surrounding tissue Signup and view all the answers

What is a common outcome of the growth pattern in malignant tumours?

Atypical mitosis with increased frequency. Signup and view all the answers

How does carcinogenesis vary?

It varies greatly with respect to time. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a contributing factor to cancer risk?

Consistently low dietary fat intake. Signup and view all the answers

What is one way in which malignant tumours present systemic effects?

They can spread to distant sites through lymph and blood. Signup and view all the answers

What type of tumours often shows similarities to normal cells?

Benign tumours Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes a characteristic of benign tumours in comparison to malignant tumours?

Benign tumours generally grow at a slower rate. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the long-term side effects of chemotherapy related to epithelial cells?

Hair loss (alopecia) Signup and view all the answers

How do targeted therapies differ from standard chemotherapy?

They block the growth of cancer by targeting specific molecules. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following side effects is associated with specific antineoplastic drugs?

Fibrosis in the lungs Signup and view all the answers

What type of effect do targeted therapies primarily have on tumor cells?

They are cytostatic and block proliferation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a type of targeted therapy?

Hormone therapy like glucocorticoids Signup and view all the answers

How are targeted therapies generally tolerated compared to standard chemotherapy?

They have fewer adverse side effects. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common adverse effect associated with the breakdown of skin and mucosa due to chemotherapy?

Stomatitis Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes targeted therapies from conventional chemotherapy in terms of drug development?

Targeted therapies are specifically designed to interact with molecular targets. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Overview of Oncology

Dr. Siow Tian Rui is a Senior Consultant in Radiation Oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore, focusing on Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary, Upper Gastrointestinal, Colorectal, and Thoracic oncology.
He teaches as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at SingHealth-Duke NUS Medical School.

Learning Outcomes

Understand the pathophysiology of benign and malignant tumors.
Identify common symptoms, investigation methods, diagnosis, and staging of cancers.
Explore mechanisms behind tumor spread and metastasis.
Compare various cancer therapies: chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunomodulatory therapy.

Neoplasm Definition

Neoplasms are abnormal cellular growths unregulated by normal genetic controls, leading to excessive reproduction.
Benign tumors are indicated by the suffix "-oma" (e.g., lipoma), while malignant tumors (cancers) use "-carcinoma" (e.g., adenocarcinoma) or "-sarcoma" for connective tissue tumors (e.g., liposarcoma).

Characteristics of Tumors

Benign Tumors: Resemble normal cells, have slow growth, are usually encapsulated, and localize without spreading.
Malignant Tumors: Exhibit varying sizes and shapes, rapid and aggressive growth, invade surrounding tissues, and can metastasize to distant sites.

Carcinogenesis

Carcinogenesis transforms normal cells into cancer cells and is influenced by:
- Environmental factors, genetic changes, and specific infections.
Risk factors include genetic predispositions and oncoviruses that alter host DNA.

Symptoms and Effects of Tumors

Can cause severe fatigue due to inflammatory changes and treatment stress.
Common complications involve tissue necrosis, bleeding, infections, and paraneoplastic syndromes affecting neurological functions or hormonal balance.

Mechanisms of Tumor Spread

Invasion: Tumor cells infiltrate adjacent tissues.
Metastasis: Distant spread through lymphatic or blood vessels, with common sites including the lungs and liver.
Seeding: Cancer cells spread via body fluids along membranes.

Tumor Staging

Essential for diagnosis; describes disease extent to guide treatment and prognosis.
The TMN system categorizes cancer based on:
- Size of the primary tumor (T).
- Lymph node involvement (N).
- Distant metastasis presence (M).

Cancer Treatment Modalities

Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.
Radiation Therapy Adverse Effects:
- Bone marrow depression leading to increased infection risk and fatigue.
- Damage to epithelial cells causing hair loss, mucosal ulcers, and gastrointestinal disturbances.

Chemotherapy

Utilizes a combination of 2-4 antineoplastic drugs from categories such as antimitotics, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, and antibiotics.
Primarily effective on rapidly growing cells, administered in cycles.
Adverse effects resemble those of radiation, affecting bone marrow and causing nausea, alopecia, and potential long-term damage to the lungs, heart, and kidneys.

Targeted Therapy

A precision medicine approach targeting specific molecules involved in cancer growth and spread.
Distinguishes itself from standard chemotherapy by targeting specific molecular pathways, resulting in better tolerability and fewer side effects.
Types include hormone therapy, which utilizes substances like glucocorticoids.

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Description

Join Dr. Siow Tian Rui, a Senior Consultant at the National Cancer Centre Singapore, as he discusses key concepts in oncology. This overview covers his subspecialties including Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary, Upper Gastrointestinal, Colorectal, and Thoracic oncology. Enhance your understanding of these critical areas in cancer treatment.