Mixed Deck — All Mesothelioma Therapy Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real Mesothelioma Therapy practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All Mesothelioma Therapy Topics flashcards as text
Which chemotherapy drug combination was approved for second-line mesothelioma in the US after initial chemotherapy failure?
Answer: Nivolumab + ipilimumab
Nivolumab combined with ipilimumab gained FDA approval for first-line mesothelioma treatment and is also used in subsequent lines after chemotherapy failure.
Which systemic therapy replaced pemetrexed + cisplatin as preferred first-line treatment in some mesothelioma guidelines?
Answer: Nivolumab + ipilimumab (CheckMate 743)
Based on the CheckMate 743 trial, nivolumab + ipilimumab immunotherapy became the preferred first-line option over chemotherapy in many US guidelines.
What is the most common dose-limiting toxicity of pemetrexed in mesothelioma treatment?
Answer: Myelosuppression (neutropenia)
Myelosuppression, particularly neutropenia, is the most common dose-limiting toxicity of pemetrexed, requiring careful monitoring of blood counts.
Which factor most contraindicates surgical resection in mesothelioma patients?
Answer: Distant metastatic disease (Stage IV)
Distant metastatic disease (Stage IV) typically contraindicates curative surgical resection as the cancer has spread beyond the reach of surgery.
What is Intensity-Modulated Pleural Radiation Therapy (IMPRINT)?
Answer: A research approach using IMRT after P/D to treat the pleural surface
IMPRINT is an investigational approach using IMRT to deliver radiation to the pleural surface after lung-sparing P/D surgery.
What does 'R0 resection' mean in the context of mesothelioma surgery?
Answer: Complete resection with no microscopic residual disease
R0 resection means complete surgical removal with no microscopic residual disease at the margins, the goal of curative surgery.
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy is approved in the US for mesothelioma in combination with which treatment?
Answer: Pemetrexed + platinum chemotherapy
TTFields (NovoTTF-100L) received FDA approval in combination with pemetrexed + platinum chemotherapy for unresectable pleural mesothelioma.
Prophylactic irradiation of procedure tracts is used in mesothelioma to prevent:
Answer: Seeding of tumor cells along biopsy or drain tracks
Prophylactic irradiation of biopsy and drain tracts is used to prevent seeding of tumor cells along these procedure sites.
Which minimally invasive surgical approach is used for peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis and staging?
Answer: Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy allows minimally invasive visualization and biopsy of peritoneal surfaces for diagnosis and staging of peritoneal mesothelioma.
What is the average latency period between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma diagnosis?
Answer: 20–50 years
Mesothelioma typically develops 20–50 years after initial asbestos exposure, making early diagnosis challenging.
Which serum biomarker is most widely studied and used to monitor mesothelioma disease progression and treatment response?
Answer: Soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP)
Soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP), measured by the FDA-cleared Mesomark assay, are the most widely studied serum biomarker for monitoring disease activity and treatment response in mesothelioma.
Which radiation technique is considered most precise for mesothelioma, reducing dose to surrounding structures?
Answer: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
IMRT allows precise dose delivery with modulated beam intensity, sparing adjacent critical structures like the heart and contralateral lung.
Which opioid is considered the gold standard for cancer pain management in palliative mesothelioma care?
Answer: Morphine
Morphine is considered the gold standard opioid for cancer pain and is widely used in palliative care for mesothelioma patients with severe pain.
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects which part of the body?
Answer: Lining of the abdomen
Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Which surgical approach is most commonly used for peritoneal mesothelioma?
Answer: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with HIPEC
Cytoreductive surgery combined with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the preferred surgical approach for eligible peritoneal mesothelioma patients.
What is the goal of prophylactic drain site irradiation in mesothelioma?
Answer: Prevent malignant seeding along biopsy or catheter tracts
Prophylactic irradiation of procedure sites prevents implantation metastases along needle biopsy or drain tracts, which mesothelioma cells can seed.
What is the most common radiographic finding on initial chest X-ray in patients with pleural mesothelioma?
Answer: Unilateral pleural effusion
Unilateral pleural effusion is the most common initial radiographic finding in pleural mesothelioma, often prompting further diagnostic workup.
What is the therapeutic relevance of detecting NF2 (neurofibromatosis type 2) gene mutations in mesothelioma?
Answer: NF2 loss activates focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling, making these tumors potential candidates for FAK inhibitor therapy under investigation
Loss of NF2 function in mesothelioma upregulates FAK signaling, and FAK inhibitors are being investigated in clinical trials as a targeted therapeutic strategy for NF2-deficient mesothelioma.
Which chemotherapy drug is most commonly used in HIPEC for peritoneal mesothelioma?
Answer: Cisplatin
Cisplatin is the most commonly used chemotherapy agent in HIPEC for peritoneal mesothelioma treatment.
What is the primary role of radiation therapy in mesothelioma treatment?
Answer: Palliative symptom control and adjuvant therapy
Radiation therapy in mesothelioma is primarily used for palliative symptom control and as adjuvant therapy after surgery rather than as a curative monotherapy.