Cancer I

Question 1

What are solid mass neoplasms

Answer 1

Tumors

Question 2

Characteristics of benign neoplasm

Answer 2

• noncancerous
• confined to limited area (circumscribed- covered in fibrous sheath)
• slower growth rate
• mass effect

Question 3

Characteristics of potentially-malignant neoplasms and examples

Answer 3

• typically localized (does not invade surrounding tissues)
• may transform into a malignant neoplasm

ex- colorectal polyps

Question 4

What are the two major characteristics of malignant neoplasms

Answer 4

Invasion- Direct extension and penetration into neighbouring tissues

Metastasis- spread to non neighbouring tissues via circulation/lymphatics

Question 5

What are common metastatic sites

Answer 5

lymph nodes, lungs, liver, CNS, bones (possibility of curative tx is reduced when malignant neoplasms metastasize)

Question 6

differences bw benign and malignant tumors

Answer 6

benign- grow more slowly, localized, tend to be encapsulated, have regular shapes

Malignant- Growth takes on amorphous shape with irregular borders. grow faster

Question 7

what is the most common general type of cancer and what is it derived from

Answer 7

carcinoma- cancers derived from epithelium

Question 8

what is a sarcoma

Answer 8

cancers that arise from connective tissue or muscle

Question 9

what is a blastoma

Answer 9

cancers of immature precursor cells

Question 10

Difference bw leukemia, lymohoma, myeloma

Answer 10

leukaemia- in blood or bone marrow
Lymphoma- in lymphoid tissues
myeloma- plasma cells

Question 11

3 stages of carcinogenesis

Answer 11

1. Initiation- cell exposed to appropriate doses of carcinogenic agents rendering an irreversible genetic change
2. Promotion- Proliferation of transformed cell (chance of control @ this stage)
3. progression- acquisition of malignant characteristics (metastasis, proliferation)

Question 12

What are examples of carcinogens

Answer 12

-Cigarete smoke
-alcoholic bevs
-infections
-UV radiation
asbestos
obesity + diet

Question 13

what % of cancers are caused by direct inheritance

Answer 13

5-10%

Question 14

What is epigenetic alterations and how does it work

Answer 14

• alterations in gene activity without altering a genes DNA sequence
• addition/ removal of methyl or acetyl

Question 15

cancers is associated w what type of methylation (on cancer suppressing + promoting genes)

Answer 15

Hyper methylation of cancer suppressing genes

Hypomethylation of cancer promoting genes

Question 16

What are protoonco genes/ oncogenes (+ ex)

Answer 16

proto0ncogenes- normal genes w important cell functions

Oncogenes- Malfunctuned oncogenes that contribute to uncontrolled cell proliferation (HER2/Kras)

Question 17

What are tumor suppressor genes and examples

Answer 17

negative regulate cell division, DNA repair and genes that activate apoptosis

> 50% of cancers contain p53 mutations
(BRCA1/2)

Question 18

What is the greatest risk factor for cancer

Answer 18

age >50

Question 19

What are some biological properties of cancer cells

Answer 19

• growth factor independednt (don’t need signals to proliferate)
• Loss of density dependent inhibition (will still proliferate if crowded)
• Tendency to break free from tissues
• limitless replicative pot

Question 20

what angiogenic growth factors can cancer cells release

Answer 20

Epidural growth factor

Transforming growth factor beta

Question 21

mc cancers in canada (+ for genders)

Answer 21

-skin cancer mc

m=prostate
f=breats
children- hematological cancers

Question 22

What are paraneoplastic syndromes

Answer 22

Clinical manifestations of cancer that occur in sites not directly affected by the malignant neoplasm

ex. clotting factors, hormones produced by the neoplasm

Question 23

What is the cancer staging system (what does each stand for)

Answer 23

TNM system

T- How large is the primary neoplasm/ degree of invasion

N- Has the tutor speed to lymphocytes nodes

M-has the cancer spread to a non continuous site and to what extent (stage IV)