Cancer Biology Flashcards
1
Q
Hyperplasia
A
accumulation of excessive numbers of normal-appearing cells within a normal-appearing tissue
2
Q
Dysplasia
A
disordered growth resulting in disordered architecture of the tissue
3
Q
Anaplasia
A
tissue and cellular architecture lacking the differentiated characteristics of an identifiable tissue-of-origin
4
Q
Pleomorphism
A
variation in size and shape of both cells and nuclei of cells
5
Q
Melanomas
A
- develop from melanocytes
- aggressive with poor prognosis and often metastasizes to lung, brain, bone and liver
- BRAF and p16Ink4a often mutated
- short bursts of sun exposure (sunburns)
6
Q
Familial melanoma
A
- mutations in CDKN2A locus which encodes 2 CDK inhibitors: p16Ink4a and p15Ink4b and a p53 activator: p14Arf
7
Q
Sporadic melanoma
A
- mutations in B-raf, Ras and p16 commonly associated in sun-exposed skin
- c-Kit (RTK) often mutated in non-exposed skin
- epigenetic silencing of PTEN also seen in some
8
Q
Basal cell carcinoma
A
- most common type of skin cancer
- basal layer of the skin
- rarely metastasizes
- inactivating mutations on PTCH and activating mutations in SMO leading to increased GLI1 gene transcription and increased cyclin D
- Gorlin syndrome
9
Q
Squamous cell carcinoma (skin)
A
- arises from keratinocytes
- can metastasize
- associated with exposure to industrial chemicals, tobacco chewing and sun exposure
- inactivating mutations in p53
- also Ras mutations
10
Q
Small cell carcinoma
A
- 20% of all lung cancers
- tend to be a central tumor
- aggressive, commonly with early metastasis to liver, bone marrow, brain and adrenal glands
- can secrete ATCH (Cushing’s)
- mutations in p53 and Rb commonly seen
- HIGHLY associated with smoking
11
Q
Squamous cell carcinoma (lung)
A
- non-small cell lung cancer
- most common NSCLC
- often presents as bronchial obstruction
12
Q
Adenocarcinoma of the lung
A
- arises from mucosal glands in the bronchii
- tends to be more peripheral
- most common lung cancer in non-smokers
13
Q
Large cell carcinoma
A
- large peripheral masses
- usually poorly differentiated and grow rapidly
- can also produce hormones that result in paraneoplastic syndromes
14
Q
Cancer Cachexia
A
- progressive loss of body fat and lean body mass accompanied by profound weakness, anorexia and anemia
- not caused by nutritional demands of tumor
- may be caused by the production of cytokines by the tumor which result in mobilization of fats from tissue stores and appetite suppression
15
Q
Hypercalcemia
A
- most common paraneoplastic syndrome
- causes: osteolysis induced by cancer, production of calcemic humoral substances by extraosseous neoplasms
