Biomarkers

Question 1

List different cancers likely to appear in males from greatest to least likely

Answer 1

Lung, prostate, colorectal area, liver, blood, and lymphoid tissues, urinary tract, and then pancreas

Question 2

List cancers females are likely to get from most likely to least likely

Answer 2

Lung, breast, colorectal area, blood lymphoid tissues, ovary, pancreas and uterus

Question 3

Define carcinogens

Answer 3

Formation of cancer from an original cell that has undergone transformation. A normal cell to cancerous involves the cell losing regulatory function of growth (replication) and death.

Question 4

What is metastasis?

Answer 4

Modified cells invading other parts of the body. For this to occur more than one gene must be altered before malignant cell is formed.

It’s usually the cause of death in cancer patients

Question 5

What is a tumor or neoplasm?

Answer 5

Abnormal / unconcontrolled proliferation of cells

Question 6

What is a benign tumor?

Answer 6

Tumor that remains confined to its primary site

Question 7

Malignant tumor is…?

Answer 7

Capable of invading surrounding normal tissue and metastasizing through circulatory and lymphatic systems to distant body sites.

Question 8

What routes are used for a malignant tumor to spread (metasize)?

Answer 8

Circulatory and lymphatic system of the patient

Question 9

What is a carcinogen?

Answer 9

Any cancer - producing agent such as radiation (physical), polycyclic hydrocarbon (chemical), and virus (biological),

Question 10

List examples of each category of carcinogen.
Physical - ????
Chemical - ?????
Biological - ?????

Answer 10

Physical - Radiation
Chemical - Polycyclic hydrocarbon
Biological - Virus (HPV)

Question 11

What is tumor marker?

Answer 11

A substance synthesized by the tumor by the host in response to a tumor.

Question 12

What are different methods to detect the presence of tumor markers?

Answer 12

Chemical, immunologic, and molecular techniques

Question 13

List desirable characteristics of a tumor marker.

Answer 13

1. Specific for cancer
2. Present with tumor (always)
3. amount of marker produced are proportional to tumor load
4. Half life of marker should be short so. They drop when patient is in remission
5. Levels of marker should have prognostic value
6. Assay for marker should be analytically sensitive, specific, accurate, precise, easy to perform, inexpensive, and rapid.
7. Should only be present that have malignant tumors
   Note: In reality, most tumor markers present in normal, benign, and cancerous tissue and lack specificity.

Question 14

What are the uses of tumor markers in diagnosing a patient?

Answer 14

1. Screen for disease
2. Aid in diagnosis for symptomatic patients
3. Aid in clinical staging
4. Measurement of tumor burden
5. Monitor response to therapy
6. Detect recurrence of disease
7. Prognostic indicator - (stage indicator)

Question 15

What are the different types of tumor markers?

Answer 15

1. Enzymes & isoenzymes
2. Hormones, neurotransmitters, and their metabolites
3. Receptors
4. Proteins
5. Genetic markers
6. Other markers

Question 16

What type of tumor marker is first identified?

Answer 16

Enzymes & isoenzymes; they have elevated activity however they are less specific to what kind of cancer.

Question 17

List examples of receptor tumor markers

Answer 17

Estrogen, progesterone, androgen, and corticosteroids

Question 18

List examples of protein tumor markers

Answer 18

Immunoglobulins, glycoproteins, carcinoembryonic protein, or oncofetal antigens

Question 19

What are examples of genetic markers?

Answer 19

Oncogenes and suppressor genes

Question 20

What belongs to other markers of tumor markers

Answer 20

Amino acids

Question 21

Why is quantification of ALP useful?

Answer 21

Helpful in evaluating metastatic cancer with bone or liver involvement.

Question 22

^ Elevated levels of ALP could mean…?

Answer 22

Osteoclastic lesion (breast cancer + bone metastasis), 5’ - NT, or y-GTT, or elevated ALP of liver origin