Cancer Biology

Question 1

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC)

Answer 1

A dominant tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 5. Mutations of APC are associated with familial adenomatous polyposis or FAP.

Question 2

Anaplasia

Answer 2

Loss of normal shape and organization of cells and tissues associated with malignant transformation.

Question 3

Adenocarcinoma

Answer 3

Cancers of glandular epithelial cells.

Question 4

Anemia

Answer 4

Reduction in the number of red blood cells, often causing fatigue.

Question 5

Anorexia

Answer 5

Loss of appetite.

Question 6

Benign

Answer 6

Non-cancerous.

Question 7

Benign Tumors

Answer 7

Non-cancerous tumors.

Question 8

Blood Dyscrasias

Answer 8

An imbalance of the cellular components of the blood.

Question 9

BRCA-1

Answer 9

A dominant caretaker gene on chromosome 17 that reports damaged DNA. BRCA-1 mutations are found in about 7% of women with a history of breast cancer.

Question 10

BRCA-2

Answer 10

A dominant caretaker gene on chromosome 13 that repairs damaged DNA. BRCA-1 and 2 mutations are responsible for about 5-10% of all breast cancers.

Question 11

Cachexia

Answer 11

General physical wasting and malnutrition associated with chronic disease.

Question 12

Cancer

Answer 12

Any neoplasm that demonstrates uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells and is associated with invasive spread and metastasis.

Question 13

Carcinoma

Answer 13

Cancers of squamous epithelial cells.

Question 14

Carcinoma In Situ (CIS)

Answer 14

The earliest stage in development of carcinomas when cancer cells have not spread beyond their immediate site of origin, as when epithelial cells have not yet invaded through the basement membrane of their extracellular cell matrix.

Question 15

Caretaker Genes

Answer 15

Genes that produce the proteins that repair damaged DNA.

Question 16

Cellular Proto-Oncogenes (c-onc)

Answer 16

Any of at least 50 different genes in the human genome such as ras that are expressed during the cell growth cycle. Cancer of a cell is usually the result of multiple mutations in c-onc genes.

Question 17

Differentiation

Answer 17

The process of anatomic and functional maturation demonstrated by normal cells and tissues. Progressively more undifferentiated malignancies are more primitive, under less genetic regulatory control, and are more aggressive.

Question 18

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)

Answer 18

The pre-invasive stage of breast duct cell cancer.

Question 19

Dysplasia

Answer 19

Abnormally appearing cells usually of squamous epithelium considered to be a pre-malignant change.

Question 20

Erythrocytes

Answer 20

Red blood cells.

Question 21

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)

Answer 21

A familial form of colon cancer caused by mutations of the APC gene, characterized by development of thousands of polyps of the colon resulting in colon cancer before the third of fourth decade of life.

Question 22

Five-Year Survival

Answer 22

The customary method of describing prognosis as the percent likelihood that an individual with a cancer of a specific stage and grade will be alive in five years.

Question 23

Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC) (“Lynch Syndrome”)

Answer 23

Colon cancer associated with mutations of any of five different genes on chromosomes 2, 3, and 7 that comprise 5-15% of all cases of colon cancer.

Question 24

Homologous Replication

Answer 24

DNA repair accomplished by certain caretaker genes by copying the correct (non-mutated) nucleotide(s) from another homologous trang, either in the other chromosome, a sister compound, or homologous repeat sequences on the same chromosome.

Question 25

HPC1

Answer 25

A mutated dominant gene on chromosome 1 associated with familial prostate cancer that increases the risk of developing cancer before 55 years of age.

Question 26

Hyperplasia

Answer 26

Increased proliferation of cells with normal appearance in tissue often involving glandular epithelium and considers ore-malignant chance.

Question 27

Leucopenia

Answer 27

Reduction in the number of white blood cells that may cause decreased immune responsiveness, including reduced resistance to infection.

Question 28

Leukemia

Answer 28

Cancer of the white blood cells that may be chronic or acute and is named for the type of white bloods most prominently involved.

Question 29

Lymphoma

Answer 29

Cancer of the lymphoid tissue.

Question 30

Malignancy

Answer 30

Cancer.

Question 31

Malignant Tumors

Answer 31

Cancerous tumors.

Question 32

Mesothelioma

Answer 32

Malignancy of the pleura, or fibrous covering of the lung, constituting about 5% of all forms of lung cancer.

Question 33

Metastasis

Answer 33

Transfer of any disease causing agent from one part of the body to another associated with the development of the same pathologic changes in the new location.

Question 34

Mitotic Index

Answer 34

The number of cells within a microscopic field that are undergoing mitosis; a high mitotic index is associated with more rapid cell proliferation and, usually a more virulent malignancy.

Question 35

Neoplasm

Answer 35

A new growth of tissue that serves no physiologic purpose; a tumor.

Question 36

Oncogenes

Answer 36

Genes that are uncontrollably activated by mutations or loss of control by regular genes, leading to malignant transformation.

Question 37

Oncogenesis

Answer 37

The induction or formation of tumors.

Question 38

Oncology

Answer 38

The medical discipline that studies and treats various forms of cancer.

Question 39

p53

Answer 39

A gene on chromosome 17 that produces a protein that suppresses cell division and/or induces cellular apoptosis. Mutations of p53 are associated with 60% of lung cancers and more rapid progression of cancers of bladder, brain, breast, cervix, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney, lung, and bone.

Question 40

Pleura

Answer 40

The connective tissue covering of the lung.

Question 41

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

Answer 41

An enzyme secreted by the epithelial cells of the prostrate gland that is used as a screening test for prostate cancer.

Question 42

Ras

Answer 42

A gene in chromosome 11 that produces a signaling enzyme that activates other genes initiating mitosis. Mutations in ras irreversibly switch to mitosis. Ras mutations are present in 30% of cancers and are associated with cancers of the colon, lung, and pancreas.

Question 43

Sarcoma

Answer 43

Cancers of cells of mesodermal origin such as muscle or bone.

Question 44

Tamoxifen

Answer 44

A drug that modulates estrogen receptors used to treat estrogen receptor-positive cancers.

Question 45

Thrombocytopenia

Answer 45

Reduction in the number of thrombocytes or platelets associated with uncontrolled bleeding due to impaired coagulation of blood.

Question 46

Tumor Grade

Answer 46

A clinical system to classify the degree of anaplasia of a cancer. Higher grades mean that the cancer is more undifferentiated and this is associated with higher virulence and a poorer prognosis.

Question 47

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-a)

Answer 47

A cytokine produced by monocytes and macrophages that mediates a variety of inflammatory responses including activation of IL-1 initiation of apoptosis, and some forms of tumor cell destruction. TNF-a is also associated with cachexia.

Question 48

Tumor Stage

Answer 48

A clinical system to classify the extent of cancer spread. Higher stages mean more extensive spread and are associated with a poorer prognosis.