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Foundations of Disease and Therapy > Cancer > Flashcards

Cancer Flashcards

1
Q

Vimentin (marker)

A

mesencyme

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2
Q

Burkitt’s Lymphoma (cause)

A

caused by translocation t(8;14)

Active transcription of c-MYC (growth factor)

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3
Q

cancer of lymphoid cells

A

malignant lymphoma

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4
Q

cancer of mesenchymal origin

A

sarcoma

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5
Q

Chromogranin (marker)

A

neuroendocrine cells (small cell carcinoma of lung and carcinoid tumors)

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6
Q

Where do most mutation in p53 occur?

A

DNA-Binding Domain

Prevents transcription of Bax, Bak, and Bad

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7
Q

colloid (mucinous) carcinoma

A

excessive mucin is produced by tumor cells (breast, colon)

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8
Q

Rb Protein

A

Tumor Suppressor that regulates G1–> S Phase

sequesters E2F

Releases E2F when phosphorylated by Cyclin D/CDK complex

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9
Q

benign tumor of nerves

A

neurofibroma

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10
Q

Cohesins

A

hold sister chromatids together

Aberation will result in inability for sister chromatids to associate in prophase

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11
Q

Nitrosamine

A

gastric cancer

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12
Q

Metastasis to brain

A

common from cancer of lung, breast, and kidney

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13
Q

Parenchyma

A

Functional cells of an organ or neoplasm

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14
Q

benign tumor of meninges

A

meningioma

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15
Q

Large Scale Genomic Instability

A

Presence of alterations in chromosome number (aneuploidy), or chromosome structure (rearrangements, breakages, genetic insertions/deletions, etc)

This can result from changes and alterations in expression level of proteins important for regulating normal mitotic progression

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16
Q

Non-neoplastic, reversible forms of cell proliferation

A

Hyperplasia, Metaplasia, and Dysplasia (variation in size and shape of cells with loss of orientation). Normal mitosis

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17
Q

Margin of Benign vs Malignant

A

Benign: smooth, encapsulated, non-invasive

Malignant: irregular margin, no capsule, invasive

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18
Q

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (cause)

A

Caused by translocation t(9;22) - Philaedelphia Chromosome

Forms Bcr-Abl Fusion Protein

Abl is a kinase that activates unrestricted growth

Gleevec (imatinib) is a drug that inhibits kinase activity of Bcr-Abl

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19
Q

Tumor/Cancer of Placental epithelium

A

Benign: Hydatiform mole

Malignant: Choriocarcinoma

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20
Q

Bcl-2

(function, disease-association)

A

Sequesters Cytochrome C in mitochondria and prevents activation of caspases

Amplification due to t(14,18) transposition resluts in follicular lymphoma because B cells cannot commit apoptosis during somatic hypermutation

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21
Q

Staging of Tumor

A

Based on size, extent of spread to lymph nodes, and absence or presence of metastasis

T - tumor size

N - lymph node involvement

M - metastasis

Staging of a tumor is better correlated with prognosis than Grading

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22
Q

benign tumor of cartilage

A

chondroma

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23
Q

Nuclei of Benign vs Metastatic cells

A

Benign: normal nuclei (N/C ratio = 1:6)

Metastatic: large, hypercromatic (N/C ratio = 1:1)

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24
Q

oat cell (small cell) carcinoma

A

undifferentiated carcinoma of neuroendocrine origin, usually in lung. Cells are lymphocyte-like on microscopy

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25
Q

Metastasis to bone

A

Common from cancer of prostate, lung, breast, thyroid, and kidney

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26
Q

papilloma

A

benign tumor arising from an epithelial surface that shows finger-like projections

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27
Q

medullary carcinoma

A

soft consistency of the tumor is due to very little connective tissue stroma

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28
Q

Clonality of Tumors

A

Most tumors and neoplasms arise from monoclonal transformations

In some cases, such as familial colonic polyposis, tumors can be of polyclonal origin

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29
Q

Grading of Tumors

A

Determines aggressiveness and degree of anaplasia

5 grades; higher grade means less differentiated and worse prognosis

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30
Q

benign tumor of fibrous tissue and glands

A

fibroadenoma

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31
Q

Most common sites of metastatic tumor

A

Lung adn Liver

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32
Q

Biologic hallmarks of cancer

A

invasion and metastasis

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33
Q

benign tumor of smooth muscle

A

Leiomyoma

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34
Q

Lymphatic spread

A

Preferred route of spread in most carcinomas

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35
Q

Polycyclic Hydrocarbons

A

Benzanthracene found in cigarette smoke - associated with lung cancer

Also produced by broiling and smoking meats/fish

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36
Q

Arsenic

A

associated with skin cancer

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37
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Fever of Unknown Origin

A

Lymphoma (especially Hodgkin’s), renal carcinoma, osteogenic sarcoma

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38
Q

cancer of synovium

A

synovial sarcoma

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39
Q

Neoplasm

A

abnormal growth characterized by uncontrolled, excessive, purposeless, and almost autonomous proliferation of cells resulting in formation of a mass. Irreversible

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40
Q

Anaplasia

A

Lack of differentiation characterized by: nuclear pleomorphism (variation in size and shape), hyper-chromatic nuclei, large nucleoli, high mitotic rate, and high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio

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41
Q

mucinous cystadenoma

A

contains mucin

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42
Q

4 Ways to Acitvate Oncogenes (and examples)

A
  1. Point mutation creating a “constitutively active” form of protein (RAS)
  2. Amplification: Increase in number of copies of gene (HER2)
  3. Increase in amount of protein present by moving gene to active promoter (Burkitt, Mantle Cell, Follicular)
  4. Translocation creating fusion protein (Bcr-Abl)
43
Q

HER2

(what it does, what can go wrong, what treats it)

A

HER2 is a Tyrosine Kinase receptor

When activated, it stimulates a cascade that favors cell cycle progression

Some people have extra copies of this gene, so its expression is amplified, making too many receptors present on the outside of the cell

Highly associated with development of Breast Cancer

Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets this receptor

44
Q

Krukenberg tumor

A

ovarian metastatic tumor, usually from a gastric adenocarcinoma

45
Q

clear cell carcinoma

A

aka renal cell carcinoma; neoplastic cells contain clear cytoplasm

46
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Clubbing of fingers

A

lung cancer

47
Q

Scirrhous (desmoplastic) carcinoma

A

marked fibrotic stroma that makes tumor stony hard

48
Q

Hematogenous Spread

A

Dominant spreading route for Sarcomas

Carcinomas that spread via this route:

  1. Renal Cell Carcinoma
  2. Hepatocellular carcinoma
  3. Follicular Carcinoma of the Thyroid
  4. Choriocarcinoma
49
Q

RAS

A

proto-oncogene that becomes an oncogene after a point mutation that leaves it constitutively activated

Active form is RAS-GTP

Mutation asociated with carcinomas, melanoma, and lymphoma

50
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Myasthenia

51
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Cushing’s Syndrome

A

small cell carcinoma of lung; due to ACTH

52
Q

Mantle Cell Lymphoma

A

Occurs due to amplification of Cyclin D due to transposition t(11,14)

This causes the cell to activate Rb pathway and pass the G1/S checkpoint

53
Q

Benign tumors remain benign and do not undergo malignancy. The only exception is:

A

Adenocarcinomas of colon usually result from Ademomas

54
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndromes

A

Symptom complexes other than cachexia in cancer patients that cannot be explained by local and distant spread of the tumor or by production of hormones indigenous to the tissue

55
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Hypercalcemia

A

squamous cell carcinoma of lung, adenocarcinoma of breast, and renal cell carcinoma; due to PTH

56
Q

Cancer of epithelial origin

57
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Carcinoid Syndrome (seratonin, histamin, bradykinin)

A

Brochial carcinoid metastatic to liver

58
Q

Wilm’s Tumor

A

Nephroblastoma; childhood malignant tumor of kidney arising from renal blastoma showing mixed embryonal tubular structures and sarcomatoid stroma

Caused by deletion of gene on Chromosome 11

59
Q

Differentiation

A

The degree to which the tumor cells exhibit morphologic and functional resemblance to comparable normal cells

60
Q

Names for neoplasm/cancer of melanocytes

A

Benign: Nevus

Malignant: Melanoma

61
Q

Neoplastic, irreversible forms of cell proliferation

A

Anaplasia - greater degree of pleomorphism than dysplasia, varying degrees of differentiation. Abnormal mitosis

62
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Deep Vein Thrombosis, thrombophlebitis

A

pancreatic cancer, GI tract cancer, lung cancer

63
Q

names for tumor/cancer of mesothelium

A

benign mesothelioma

malignant mesothelioma

64
Q

Cystadenoma

A

benign epithelial tumor containing fluid or semisolid material

65
Q

p53

A

Major tumor suppressor; almost all cancers have a mutation in this pathway

Regulates Apoptosis and DNA Repair via activation of Caspases

Many points on this pathway can cause loss of this function (Amplification of Mdm2, mutated p53, Amplification of Bcl-2)

66
Q

Hamartoma

A

localized overgrowth of mature cells normally found in an organ. DIsorganize mature cells produce a mass that looks like a tumor, but is benign. Common in lung and liver

67
Q

Cancer of neuroglial cells

A

Malignant Glioma

68
Q

Desmoplasia

A

Exuberant production of collagenous stroma induced by the tumor cells

69
Q

Condensins

A

compact chromosomes

aberation will alter ability for chromosomes to properly condense in prophase

70
Q

Benign tumor of striated muscle

A

rhabdomyoma

71
Q

benign tissue of fibrous tissue and fat

A

fibrolipoma

72
Q

Vinyl chloride

A

Used to make PVC pipes; causes hemangiosarcoma of liver

73
Q

signet-ring cell carcinoma

A

adenocarcinoma where malignant cells look like signet rings microscipically. Usually in stomach

74
Q

Benign tumor of fibrous tissue

75
Q

Ways cancers can spread

A
  1. lymphatics
  2. hematogenous
  3. seeding through body cavities and surfaces
76
Q

Blood level is high in trophoblastic (hydatidiformmole, chorionic carcinoma) and germ cell tumors

A

Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG)

77
Q

Asbestos

A

associated with lung cancer and mesothelioma

78
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Hypoglycemia

A

Sarcomas, liver cancer; due to insulin

79
Q

Neuroblastoma (cause)

A

Caused by gene amplification of N-Myc

80
Q

Desmin (marker)

81
Q

Cancer of liver

A

Hepatoma or Hepatocellular Carcinoma

82
Q

Why do tumors grow faster than surrounding cells?

A

The cells themselves do not divide faster; the tumor grows quickly because a greater percentage of cells are actively dividing and fewer cells are committing apoptosis

83
Q

Describe steps of metastasis

A
  1. Downregulation of E-cadhedrin leads to disassociation from surrounding cels
  2. Tumor cells bind to laminin and destroy basement membrane
  3. Proteolytic enzymes (collagenase) lyse the Type IV collegen in matrix
  4. Cells attach to fibronectin in ECM and spread locally
  5. Tumor cells migrate
84
Q

cancer of neuroendocrine cells

A

carcinoid tumor

85
Q

Heavy metal inhalation

A

associated with lung cancer

86
Q

Cancer of plasma cells

A

Multiple Myeloma

87
Q

polyp

A

benign epithelial tumor prodtruding from epithelial surface

88
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Hyponatremia

A

small cell carcinoma of lung; due to ADH

89
Q

Blood level is high in prostate cancer

A

Psostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP), Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

90
Q

Cachexia

A

loss of body fat, lean body mass, weakness, anorexia, and anemia

Increased metabolism of all nutrients - may involve Cachectin

91
Q

cancer of hemopoietic cells of bone marrow

92
Q

Normally produced by embryonal gut, pancreas, liver.

Serum level may be high in colorectal, pancreatic, liver, and gastric cancers.

A

Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)

93
Q

UV Rays

A

squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma

94
Q

Aromatic Amines and azo dyes: beta-napthalamine

A

causes bladder cancer among workers with aniline dye and rubber industry

95
Q

Keratin (marker)

A

Epithelium

96
Q

Retinoblastoma (cause)

A

Caused by deletion of Rb gene on chromosome 13

Rb is a tumor suppressor

97
Q

seruos cystadenoma

A

contains serous fluid

98
Q

Encapsulation

A

Peripheral, circumferential fibrous connective tissue rim around benign tumors

99
Q

Benign tumor of glandular epithelium

100
Q

Teratoma

A

benign tumor composed of more than one germ layer, usually all three. Totipotential cells of testis or overy can differentiate along various germ lines

101
Q

Normally produced by yolk sac and fetal liver. Blood level goes up in cancer of liver and germ cell tumor of testis.

A

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

102
Q

When do symptoms from a tumor first occur

A

after 30 divisions

103
Q

Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Acanthosis nigricans (dark patches of skin)

A

gastrointestinal cancer

104
Q

Stroma

A

Supporting connective tissue and blood vessels

Foundations of Disease and Therapy (12 decks)

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