Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

MFM > Cancer > Flashcards

Cancer Flashcards

1
Q

smallest clinically detectable tumor?

A

1g, 109 cells, had already undergone 30 population doublings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is the max size of a tumor compatible with life?

A

1kg (10 additional doublings from a 1g tumor)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is the clinical significance of the size of a clinically detectable tumor?

A

by the time the 1g tumor is detected, it has already competed a major portion of its lifespan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what determines the growth rate of a tumor?

A
  1. the doubling time of the tumor cells
  2. the fraction of tumor cells that are in the replicative pool
  3. the rate at which cells are shed or die
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

relationship of effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs and replicative pool size?

A

tumors with a large percentage of cells in the replicative pool will respond better to chemo than those with a low percentage of replicating cells (chemo targets actively cycling cells)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

difference between malignant and benign tumors with regard to level of differentiation

A

malignant tumors tend to be LESS differentiated than benign tumors, so they grow more rapidly than benign tumors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what does multistep carcinogenesis mean

A

the cancer results from the accumulation of multiple mutations over time, ex. colorectal cancer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

mechanism of CRC development

A
  1. first hit is a mutation (germ line or somatic) in APC
  2. second hit is the inactivation of other APC allele via abnormal methylation
  3. proto-oncogene K-RAS converts to oncogenic form of K-RAS
    COULD LEAD TO CELLS SENESCE WITH JUST ADENOMA POLYPS, IF P53 MUTATES, TELOMERASE AFFECTED AT THE END
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is hyperplasia

A

accumulation of excessive numbers of normal appearing cells within normal appearing tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is dysplasia

A

disordered growth resulting in disordered architecture of the tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is anaplasia

A

tissue and cellular architecture lacking the differentiated characteristics of an identifiable tissue of origin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is pleomorphism

A

variation in size and shape of both cells and nuclei of the cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what is abnormal nuclear morphology

A

atypical mitosis which leads to tripolar, multipolar mitotic spindles (cell trying to divide into three cells or more)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what could be an effect of abnormal nuclear morphology?

A

chromosomes not split up correctly, loss of function/tumor suppressor genes in one daughter cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

characteristic of anaplasia

A
  1. pleomorphism
  2. abnormal cell morphology
  3. disorganized tissue structure
  4. tumor giant cells present
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is a tumor giant cell

A

large cell with either one large polymorphic nucleus or multiple nuclei

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

characteristic of benign tumor

A

mass of cells lacks ability to metastasize, cells within this mass resemble their parent tissue, surrounded by a fibrous capsule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

characteristic of malignant tumors

A

tumor invades surrounding tissues, capable of producing metastases that may recur after attempted removal, cells within this mass diverge significantly from the parent tissue in morphology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

how are cancers named

A

for the site of the body where they first develop

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what are carcinomas

A

cancers of epithelial origin (ex. adeno)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what are sarcomas

A

cancers of connective tissue origin (ex. osteo, chondro, myo, lympho)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is the most common type of cancer in adults

A

carcinoma, 90%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what is a lymphoma

A

solid tumor of lymphoid cells, 4% of cancer in adults, 8% of cancer in children

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what is leukemia

A

tumor comprised of any of a variety of hematopoietic cell types dispersed through circulation, 4% of cancer in adults, 30% of cancer in children (ALL)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
what are sarcomas
a rare type of cancer in adults, 1% in adults, 7% of cancers in children, originates from mesenchymal cells
26
what is retinoblastoma
cancer of retina, 2% of childhood cancers
27
what is wilms tumor
cancer of the kidney, 5% of childhood cancers
28
what is neuroblastoma
adrenal gland tumors, 6% of pediatric cancers
29
most common sarcomas in children
rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma
30
most common brain and CNS tumors in children
astrocytomas, medulloblastoma, ependymoma, 25% of childhood cancers
31
most common cancer in the US
melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer
32
most common cancer in the world
lung cancer
33
4 types of lung cancer
adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma
34
2 subtypes of non-melanoma skin cancer
1. squamous cell carcinoma | 2. basal cell carcinoma
35
what does short periods of intense UV exposure increase the risk of
melanoma
36
what does chronic sun exposure increase risk of
non-carcinoma skin cancer
37
what is melanoma
aggressive form of skin cancer with poor prognosis and multiple sites of metastasis
38
median survival for metastaic melanoma
6-12 months
39
common sites of metastasis for melanoma
lung, brain, bone, liver
40
where does melanoma develop?
melanocytes, which are pigmented cells found in the basal layer of epidermis
41
what is familial melanoma
melanoma associated with mutations in CDKN2A locus
42
what does CDKN2A encode
p16Ink4a and p15Ink4b CDK inhibitors and p14Arf p53 activator
43
what does mutation in the CDKN2A locus infer
CDK will not be inhibited and p53 will not be activated, leading to cell survival and proliferation
44
what is sporadic melanoma
melanoma arising from sun-exposed sun due to mutations in B-Raf, Ras and p16, sometimes epigenetic silencing of PTEN
45
what sporadic melanoma is associated with non-sun exposed skin
mutations in RTKinase c-Kit, sometimes epigenetic silencing of PTEN
46
what is the most common form of skin cancer
basal cell carcinoma
47
characteristics of basal cell carcinoma
originates from cells in basal layer of skin, rarely metastasize, good prognosis, can be removed surgically
48
characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma
arises from keratinocytes in epidermis, can become metastatic, can be removed surgically if NOT metastatic
49
risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma versus basal cell and melanomas
squamous cell carcinoma can develop due to industrial chemical exposure and tobacco chewing in addition to sun exposure
50
what mutations cause basal cell carcinoma
inactivating mutations (LOF, tumor suppressor) in PTCH and activating mutations (GOF, oncogene) in SMO
51
what would mutation in PTCH and SMO lead to
increased GLI1-mediated gene transcription and increased expression of cyclinD, leading to increased gene expression and unregulated cell division and abnormal growth
52
what is Gorlin syndrome
inherited form of basal cell carcinoma, inherited mutations in PTCH (mutation in PTCH where it does not inhibit SMO)
53
drugs to treat basal cell carcinoma
cyclopamine, vismodegib, both inhibit SMO
54
pathology of squamous cell carcinoma
inactivating (loss of function, tumor suppressor) mutation in p53, also oncogenic mutation in RAS (Ras activated) 1. UV damage to DNA, but absence of functional p53 does not initiate cell cycle arrest (via binding to p21, which inhibits Cdk) 2. lack of cell cycle arrest allows proliferation of cells that have undergone UV induced mutations
55
how is early stage squamous cell carcinoma treated
5-fluorouracil cream
56
what is SCLC
small cell carcinoma lung cancer, is a central, aggressive, (early) metastatic cancer but is sensitive to chemo
57
what is NSCLC
non-small cell carcinoma lung cancer, not metastatic, resistant to chemo
58
what are included in NSCLC
adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma
59
risk factors for SCLC
smoking
60
common sites of metastasis for SCLC
liver, bone marrow, brain, adrenal glands
61
mutations found in SCLC
p53 and Rb found in 80% of cases (cannot initiate cell death or stop CDK, cannot halt proliferation)
62
characteristic of cells in SCLC
the cells can secrete ACTH and form cushing's disease
63
what is cushing's disease
hypercortisolism, increased ACTH, fatty deposits around face and upper back, weight gain in midsection but NOT the limbs
64
what is the most common form of NSCLC
squamous cell carcinoma
65
usual presentation of squamous cell carcinoma
bronchial obstruction
66
what is the most common form of lung cancer found in non-smokers
adenocarcinoma of the lung
67
characteristics of adenocarcinoma of the lung
mucosal glands in the bronchi, is more peripheral and can be mistaken for metastatic lesions
68
characteristics of large cell carcinoma
large peripheral masses, poorly differentiated, grow rapidly, can produce hormones that result in paraneoplastic syndromes
69
what is paraneoplastic syndromes
system complexes in cancer-bearing individuals that cannot be explained by the spread of the tumor or by hormones indigenous to tissue from which the tumor arose
70
cell type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
immature pre-B or B cells
71
characteristics of ALL
rare, affects younger people, aggressive disease that replaces bone marrow and invades tissues
72
diagnosis of ALL
characteristic cells on examination of blood or bone marrow, flow cytometry may be required to distinguish from acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
73
cell type affected in CLL (chronic lymphoblastic leukemia)
mature B cells
74
characteristics of CLL
common in elderly, may be nonagressive
75
diagnosis of CLL
lymphocytosis on blood film, CLL lymphocytes express characteristic surface molecules detected by flow cytometry
76
cells affected in lymphoma
mature B-cells
77
characteristics of lymphona
frequently associated with EBV or infection and chromosomal translocation, cause solid lesions beginning in lymph nodes or mucosa associated lymphoid tissue
78
diagnosis of lymphoma
bx of affected tissue, heavy chain rearrangement, chromosomal analysis
79
cells affected in multiple myeloma
plasma cells
80
characteristics of MM
common in elderly
81
diagnosis of MM
detection of monoclonal immunoglobulin in blood or light chains in urine, presence of plasma cells in marrow and osteolytic lesion on radiograph
82
cells affected in T-cell malignancy
T-cells
83
characteristics of T-cell malignancy
is rare, may be caused by HTLVI infection
84
diagnosis of T-cell malignancy
can behave either as leukemia (blood involvement) or lymphoma (solid tissue involvement)
85
what is cancer cachexia
progressive loss of body fat and lean body mass accompanied with profound weakness, anorexia, and anemia, that is NOT caused by nutritional demands of the tumor
86
what causes cancer cachexia
possibly production of cytokines by the tumor, which results in mobilization of fats from tissue stores and appetite suppression
87
what are the paraneoplastic syndromes?
1. hypercalcemia 2. cushing syndrome 3. acanthosis nigricans 4. clubbing of fingers
88
what causes finger clubbing
cardiopulmonary disorders, commonly lung cancer
89
most common paraneoplastic syndrome?
hypercalcemia
90
what causes hypercalcemia
1. osteolysis induced by the cancer | 2. production of calcemic humoral substances by extraosseous neoplasms
91
what is cushing's disease associated with
small cell carcinoma lung cancer (SCLC)
92
what is acanthosis nigricans
gray-black patches in skin folds of neck, groin, and anogenital regions, usually associated with gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma

MFM (39 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions