Cancer and Dysplasia

Question 1

3 ways cells can be put under stress

Answer 1

Increased demand/stimulation
Decreased nutrients/stimulation
Chronic irritation

Question 2

Hypertrophy

Answer 2

Increase in SIZE of cells

Leads to an increase in size of organ or tissue

Question 3

Hyperplasia

Answer 3

Increase in NUMBER of cells

Leads to an increase in size of organ or tissue

Question 4

Atrophy

Answer 4

Reduction in cell size and number

Leads to a decrease in size or organ or tissue

Question 5

Metaplasia

Answer 5

One cell type is replaced by another cell type
Reversible
Adaptive substitution
Usually in response to chronic irritation

Question 6

Necrosis

Answer 6

Mechanism of cell death in response to cell injury
Cellular membrane breaks down and releases enzymes, etc into surrounding tissue
Causes inflammation

Question 7

Apoptosis

Answer 7

Mechanism by which the body regulates cell growth and destroys unwanted cells
Not necessarily associated with cell injury
Cell membrane remains intact
Minimal disruption to surrounding tissue

Question 8

What happens if the gene bcl-2 is upregulated?

Answer 8

Apoptosis is reduced and tumor growth is promoted

Question 9

What happens if the gene bax is upregulated?

Answer 9

Apoptosis is promoted and cancer growth is slowed

Question 10

Definition of a tumor

Answer 10

Swelling or lump

Can be benign or malignant

Question 11

Neoplasm definition

Answer 11

Abnormal mass of tissue
Growth exceeds normal tissue
Persists in the same manner after the cessation of stimuli that evoked change
Benign or malignant

Question 12

Cancer

Answer 12

Malignant neoplasm or tumour

Question 13

Carcinoma

Answer 13

Malignant neoplasms of epithelial origin

Question 14

Dysplasia

Answer 14

Premalignant condition
Early forms may be reversible
Will often progress to invasive neoplasm if not treated
Will see increased cell growth, atypical cellular changes, and altered cellular differentiation

Question 15

3 cellular changes in dysplasia

Answer 15

Variation in nuclear size and shape
Darkly staining nuclei
Loss of normal orientation

Question 16

Benign neoplasm characteristics (8)

Answer 16

Slow growing
Clear borders
Does NOT infiltrate adjacent tissues
Does not metastasize
Histologically resembles tissue of origin
Good prognosis
Can be cured by surgical removal
Can be a precursor for malignant neoplasms

Question 17

Malignant neoplasm characteristics (7)

Answer 17

Grow rapidly
Poorly circumscribed
Infiltrates and destroys adjacent tissues
Metastasizes
Histologically may poorly resemble tissue of origin
Often fatal
Surgically cured only in the early stages

Question 18

Differentiation

Answer 18

Refers to the extent to which the cells of a neoplasm resemble normal cells both morphologically and functionally
Can be well, moderately, or poorly differentiated

Question 19

Staging of cancers is based on (3)

Answer 19

Size of primary neoplasm
Extent of spread to regional nodes
Presence or absence of distal metastases