Here are some points that can make your Hematology/Oncology life easier- The earlier you learn them, the better. Lesson Number 1: Below is a list of anticancer agents for which the category and mechanism of action can be recognized by their names:
Myeloid cells: Granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils) Neutrophils maturation in BM: 7-10 days, circulates in blood: 1 day, duration in tissue: 2-3 days Monocytes Macrophages Gaucher’s Disease: Autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder Caused by a deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GBA gene) Cells accumulate in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow Classic “crumpled tissue paper” appearance (Buzz word) Dendritic cells Mast cells Lymphocytes: B cells T
Background: Risk factors: Obesity Chronic anovulation/ prolonged unopposed estrogen exposure PCOS/chronic anovulation Estrogen-only menopausal hormone therapy Estrogen-producing tumors Obesity Nulliparity/ infertility Early menarche/ late menopause → greater lifetime estrogen exposure Increasing age/ postmenopausal status Tamoxifen Endometrial hyperplasia Combined OCP, progestin exposure and multiparity decrease risk of endometrial cancer High association with Lynch syndrome
Types: Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Hurthle Cell Carcinoma Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma Suspicious features of thyroid nodules on US: Irregular margins Microcalcifications Taller than wide shape Rim calcifications with small extrusive soft tissue component Extrathyroidal extension Central vascularity Treatment: Treatment typically entails surgery (lobectomy vs. thyroidectomy) Indications for thyroidectomy : History of pr
Red Blood Cell Transfusion RBCs are collected from whole blood donation or by apheresis How RBC apheresis works: Venous access → blood enters the apheresis machine → Blood is separated by centrifugation → a predetermined amount of RBCs are collected and remaining components are returned Why use apheresis? Collects two units of RBCs from one donor in a singe session Reduces the recipient's exposure to multiple donors. Indications: Patients requiring chronic transfusion (Sickle
Background: Most common solid malignancy in males aged 15-40 years Risk factors: History of cryptorchidism (undescended testis) Family history of testicular cancer Personal history of testicular cancer Types: Germ cell tumors (90-95%): Seminoma: Usually present with localized disease, indolent growth, less likely to be metastatic beyond RP nodes Non seminoma: Embryonal Carcinoma Choriocarcinoma Yolk Sac Tumor (endodermal sinus tumor) Teratoma Non- Germ cell tumors (5-10%) Sex
Introduction: NHL is categorized into two groups of B-cell lymphomas and T/NK-Cell lymphomas: B-cell lymphomas (85–90%): (discussed in a separate post B-Cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma) Aggressive: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) High-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL) Includes selected lymphomas with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements Historically referred to as “double-hit” lymphoma when MYC and BCL2 rearrangements are present Burkitt lymphoma (BL): Highly aggressive Derived from germin
Background: Genetic Risks: Li-Fraumeni syndrome (p53) NF1 (malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors) Familial Rb Gardeners/FAP (APC) Desmoid tumors Most are sporadic tumors Risk factors: Prior radiation is the #1 risk factor (esp within 10-30 years) HIV or HHV-8 (Kaposi Sarcoma) Chronic Lymphedema (Angiosarcoma) Most common types: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) Characterized by c-KIT or PDGFRA mutations Liposarcoma Well-differentiated/Dedifferentiated liposarcoma MDM2
Background: SCLC is a poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma. Small blue cells, scant cytoplasm, high N:C ratio, granular chromatin Types: Limited-Stage SCLC (LS-SCLC): Stages I–III confined to the ipsilateral hemithorax that can be safely encompassed within a radiation field Some stage III tumors are considered extensive-stage when the disease burden is too extensive to be safely encompassed in a tolerable radiation field. Extensive-Stage SCLC (ES-SCLC): Stage IV di
Cutaneous Melanoma The BRAF V600 mutation is a frequent somatic/acquired driver mutation in cutaneous melanoma. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) is the most frequently mutated high-risk gene associated with familial cutaneous melanoma. Staging: Any N+ disease is Stage IIIA and up Memorize staging: Stage Thickness Ulceration T1a < 0.8 mm No T1b < 0.8 mm Yes T1b 0.8–1 mm with or without T2a 1–2 mm No T2b 1–2 mm Yes T3a 2–4 mm No T3b 2–4 mm Yes T4a > 4 mm No T4b > 4
Background: Rectal cancer is a subtype of colorectal cancer, but clinically behaves differently from colon cancer (its pelvic location creates unique challenges related to local recurrence, resection margins, sphincter preservation, and radiation planning) Accounts for ~40% of all colorectal cancers Most rectal cancers are adenocarcinoma Key risk factors overlap with colorectal cancer: Age, prior adenomas/CRC, family history, Lynch syndrome/FAP, IBD, obesity, smoking, alcohol
Hemoglobinopathy Sickle Cell Disease (discussed below) Thalassemia (discussed below) Hemoglobin C Substitution of lysine for glutamic acid in 6th position of the beta globin chain Subtypes: Hb AC (Hb C trait): No symptoms Hb CC (Hb C disease): Causes HbC crystals Symptoms: anemia, mild hemolytic anemia (prone to gallstone), splenomegaly Hb SC: less sickling and vaso-occlusive events compared to Hb SS More retinopathy, priapism and ischemic necrosis of bones Hemoglobin E Su
*** A list of abbreviations is provided at the end of this note. Background: Most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous malignancy in men Second leading cause of cancer death among men in the US Key risk factors: Age: mostly in men >50 (median age at diagnosis ~66) Family history: first-degree relative increases the risk 2-3 times Race: significantly higher incidence in African American, earlier onset and 2× mortality No biological differences in tumor genomics Germline mutations:
Qualitative: Defects in membrane glycoproteins Bernard-Soulier Syndrome (GPIb/IX/V) Glanzmann Thrombasthenia (GPIIB/IIIa) Collagen Defects (GPVI and GPIa/IIa) Defect in platelet granules Storage Pool Deficiency Gray Platelet Syndrome Quebec Platelet Disorder Hermanksy Pudlak syndrome Defects in platelet secretion and signaling Defects in platelet coagulant activity Defects of transcription factors RUNX1 Defects of cytoskeletal/structural proteins Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome B1-T
Background: Types: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): 85–95% KRAS mutations are found in ~90% of PDAC Neuroendocrine tumors, Acinar cell carcinomas, Cystic neoplasms: 1-5% Rare Variants: Adenosquamous carcinoma, colloid carcinoma, etc: <1% Work up: EUS/ERCP for biopsy and stent placement Consult GI for ERCP if bilirubin high (prior to giving chemotherapy) CT Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis CA 19-9 (baseline) CA19-9 is a good marker but should not be used to determine need for trea
Background: NSCLC (85%): Adenocarcinoma (~60%) Squamous (~25%) Large cell carcinoma and other less common histologies (~15%) SCLC (15%) Staging: Recommend to memorize TNM staging (questions will not always state what stage but may provide size, nodal involvement, etc) T: High-yield size cutoffs: T2 begins at 3 cm Each T goes up by 2 cm: T2 (3 cm) → T3 (5cm) → T4 (7cm) N1: Ipsilateral peribronchial Ipsilateral hilar Intrapulmonary LN N2: Ipsilateral mediastinal Subcarinal LN N
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) Anti-CD19 CAR-T cell: Preferred for relapsed/refractory DLBCL if relapsed <1 year. Tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) Lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) Brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) Anti-CD19 mAb: Tafasitamab Anti-CD20 mAb: Rituximab Obinutuzumab Anti-CD79b ADC ( Antibody-Drug Conjugate) : Polatuzumab vedotin Used in Pola-R-CHP regimen Anti-CD19 ADC: Loncastuximab Tesirine CD20 x CD3 Bispecific Ab: Eng
Background: Diagnosis is based on morphological evidence of dysplasia in BMBx Additional studies: karyotyping, flow cytometry, molecular genetics Pearl: Regardless of blast percentage, if a characteristic AML cytogenetic abnormality is seen on BMBx, then should treat as AML. Can be associated with previous drug exposures Example: alkylating chemotherapy or topoisomerase inhibitors Associated with del 5, del 7, or complex chromosomal abnormalities Risk Stratification: Based on
Background: Types: Pleural mesothelioma (~85%) Peritoneal mesothelioma (~15%) Histology: Epithelioid Mesothelioma: Epithelioid-to-round cells Better prognosis Non-Epithelioid Mesothelioma: Sarcomatoid: Spindle cells with tapered nuclei Biphasic: Contains both epithelioid and sarcomatioid components in various proportions (each at least 10% of the tumor) Diagnosis: Immunohistochemical panels are essential for diagnosis, requires both criteria: 2 positive mesothelial markers:
Definition: ≥10% clonal BM plasma cells + ≥1 myeloma-defining event Biopsy-proven plasmacytoma + ≥1 myeloma-defining event Myeloma-defining events → CRAB-SLiM Calcium >11 or >1 above ULN Renal insufficiency: Cr >2 or CrCl <40 Anemia: Hb <10 or 2< below LLN Bone: ≥1 osteolytic lesion ≥Sixty/60% clonal plasma cells in BM Free Light chains (FLC): involved FLC/uninvolved FLC ≥100 AND involved FLC ≥100 mg/L MRI >1 focal lesion, each ≥5 mm Risk Stratification: High risk MM: High r
Here is a list of common anticancer therapies (chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy), categorized by mechanism of action, along with information on their routes of administration.