Egyptian Board Clinical Oncology study plan

Build a one-page classification table of cytotoxic drug classes (alkylators, antimetabolites, topoisomerase inhibitors, tubulin binders, anthracyclines) listing mechanism, cell-cycle phase specificity, dose-limiting toxicity, and key organ dose-adjustment rule for each.

Recite from memory the mechanism and main toxicity of at least 12 targeted agents spanning EGFR, ALK, BRAF, HER2, VEGF-pathway, PARP, CDK4/6, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Explain the pharmacology behind febrile neutropenia risk: which regimens carry high risk, how G-CSF prophylaxis is timed, and why same-day CSF with chemotherapy is avoided.

Work through 20 calculation-style items on body-surface-area dosing, carboplatin AUC (Calvert), and renal/hepatic dose modification, and log every error with its corrected rule.

Compare and contrast the major oncologic emergencies (febrile neutropenia, tumor lysis syndrome, malignant spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome, hypercalcemia, immune-related adverse events) by first-line management and time-critical step.

Derive the Cairo-Bishop criteria and the TLS risk stratification for a bulky lymphoma or high-tumor-burden case, and state the rasburicase versus allopurinol decision rule including G6PD caveat.

Draft a steroid-equivalent and opioid-rotation cheat sheet, and justify an antiemetic regimen for a highly emetogenic regimen using guideline logic (5-HT3, NK1, dexamethasone, olanzapine).

Distinguish immune-related adverse event grading and the steroid versus additional immunosuppression threshold for colitis, pneumonitis, hepatitis, and hypophysitis.

Reconstruct the linear accelerator beam path from source to target and explain how collimation, flattening-filter-free mode, and multileaf collimator leaf width affect dose distribution.

Compute equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions for at least six fractionation schemes using the linear-quadratic model with alpha/beta of 3 Gy for late tissue and 10 Gy for tumor, showing each step.

Interpret a dose-volume histogram verbally: state what D95, V20, mean dose, and maximum point dose mean for a target and for a serial organ at risk.

Match each of the following techniques to its typical indication and constraint set: 3D conformal, VMAT, SBRT, IMRT with elective nodal coverage, and proton therapy.

Explain the radiobiology of the 4 R's and how repopulation and reoxygenation justify accelerated or hyperfractionated schedules.

Map the receptor-defined breast cancer subtypes to their systemic algorithm, naming the endocrine, anti-HER2, CDK4/6, PARP, and antibody-drug options and the line of therapy for each.

Explain the genomic assays used to decide chemotherapy omission in hormone-receptor-positive early disease, and state which node status and menopausal status change the recommendation.

Outline the surgical and radiation sequence for breast-conserving therapy versus mastectomy, including when post-mastectomy radiation and regional nodal irradiation are indicated.

Describe guideline-based surveillance after curative breast therapy and the workup of a suspected recurrence, distinguishing locoregional from distant disease.

Differentiate the systemic first-line approach for oncogene-addicted versus non-addicted non-small cell lung cancer, and state the biomarker panel required before treatment selection.

Compare limited-stage and extensive-stage small cell lung cancer by concurrent chemoradiation timing, prophylactic cranial irradiation indications, and maintenance options.

Sequence the diagnostic and staging pathway for a pleural effusion or mediastinal mass, and state which findings make a lesion unresectable.

Build a stage-by-stage treatment map for colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, and hepatocellular carcinoma, naming the resectability criteria and the perioperative or palliative regimen for each.

Explain the molecular selection logic in gastrointestinal cancer (MSI-high, RAS/BRAF status, HER2, and the role of liquid biopsy in resistance).

Map prostate cancer risk stratification to treatment: active surveillance thresholds, radical local therapy, and the sequencing of androgen deprivation with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors or docetaxel in metastatic disease.

Outline the systemic algorithm for renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma, naming the immunotherapy- and tyrosine-kinase-inhibitor-based combinations and their toxicity profiles.

Trace the management of ovarian cancer from cytoreductive surgery through platinum-based adjuvant therapy, maintenance with PARP inhibition or bevacizumab, and the interpretation of BRCA and HRD status.

Compare the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer (concurrent chemoradiation with brachytherapy) with endometrial cancer risk-group-based adjuvant therapy.

Explain gestational trophoblastic disease staging and the chemotherapy selection rule based on risk score.

Classify lymphomas and leukemias by diagnostic marker and state the frontline regimen family for Hodgkin, diffuse large B-cell, follicular, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and acute leukemia.

Explain the indications, donor selection, conditioning intensity, and main complications of autologous versus allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, including graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis.

Describe the supportive care bundle for a patient with acute leukemia or post-transplant neutropenia, covering antimicrobial prophylaxis, transfusion thresholds, and tumor lysis prevention.

Map head and neck cancer by subsite and stage to surgery, concurrent chemoradiation, or induction therapy, and state the HPV-status effect on oropharyngeal prognosis.

Outline the management of glioblastoma and low-grade glioma by molecular marker, and the management of brain metastases by number and systemic disease control.

Summarize the treatment principles of the four most common pediatric cancers (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma), noting age-specific and growth-related constraints on radiation.

List the late-effect surveillance domains for childhood cancer survivors and the fertility-preservation conversation required before gonadotoxic therapy.

Rehearse a timed mixed-topic block of 60 questions drawn from all 11 domains and categorize every miss by domain and by error type (knowledge gap, misread, or reasoning slip).

Re-derive the five highest-yield formulas (Calvert AUC, BSA dosing, linear-quadratic equivalent dose, creatinine clearance, and steroid equivalence) without notes.

Assemble a personal one-page rapid-review sheet of the 25 facts most often missed across the eight weeks and self-test it twice.