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pathophysiology > cancer objectives 1-3 > Flashcards

cancer objectives 1-3 Flashcards

1
Q

What is cancer?

A

Cancer refers to diseases where abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and invade other tissues.

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2
Q

What is a neoplasm?

A

A neoplasm is a new tumor; not all neoplasms are cancerous.

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3
Q

How are malignant neoplasms classified?

A

By tissue and organ of origin, extent of metastases, microscopic appearance, and genetic changes.

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4
Q

What is the term for cancer that spreads from one organ to another?

A

Metastasis (e.g., spreading from pancreas to liver is regional, to the brain is systemic).

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5
Q

Define anaplasia.

A

Anaplasia is the loss of cellular differentiation and function.

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6
Q

What does pleomorphic mean in relation to cancer cells?

A

Pleomorphic cells are variable in size and shape.

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7
Q

Describe the difference in growth rate between benign and malignant tumors.

A

Benign tumors grow slowly, while malignant tumors grow rapidly.

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8
Q

What is a defining feature of benign tumors regarding encapsulation?

A

Benign tumors have a well-defined capsule.

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9
Q

Do benign tumors invade surrounding tissues?

A

No, benign tumors are non-invasive.

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10
Q

How do malignant tumors differ in cell differentiation?

A

Malignant tumors are poorly differentiated, often showing anaplasia.

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11
Q

How does the mitotic index differ between benign and malignant tumors?

A

Benign tumors have a low mitotic index (slow replication), while malignant tumors have a high mitotic index (fast replication).

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12
Q

Can benign tumors metastasize?

A

No, benign tumors do not metastasize.

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13
Q

Name two benign tumors that can cause significant issues.

A

Pheochromocytoma (affects catecholamines, causing HTN, diaphoresis) and parathyroid tumors (affect calcium, causing hypercalcemia).

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14
Q

What suffix is commonly used for naming tumors?

A

“-oma” (e.g., lipoma, neuroblastoma).

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15
Q

How are benign tumors typically named?

A

According to the tissue they arise from, plus the suffix “-oma” (e.g., lipoma for fatty tumors).

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16
Q

How are malignant tumors named?

A

According to their tissue origin (e.g., carcinoma for epithelial cells, sarcoma for connective tissue).

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17
Q

What is a carcinoma?

A

Cancer originating in epithelial cells.

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18
Q

What is an adenocarcinoma?

A

A type of carcinoma that forms in gland or duct cells.

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19
Q

Define sarcoma.

A

Cancer that originates in connective tissue, muscle, or bone (e.g., osteosarcoma in bone).

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20
Q

What is lymphoma?

A

Cancer of the lymphatic tissue.

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21
Q

Define leukemia.

A

Cancer affecting the bone marrow and blood cells, impacting WBCs, RBCs, and platelets.

22
Q

What does carcinoma in situ (CIS) mean?

A

Localized abnormal cells with no spread; also known as Stage 0 cancer.

23
Q

What are the possible outcomes for carcinoma in situ?

A

CIS cells may die due to unfavorable conditions, remain unchanged, progress to invasive cancer, or regress and disappear.

24
Q

What factors are considered in cancer staging?

A

Size of the tumor, degree of local invasion, extent of metastasis, and results from molecular testing.

25
Q

What is Stage 0 cancer?

A

Carcinoma in situ, where cancer cells are localized and have not spread.

26
Q

What defines Stage I cancer?

A

Cancer is confined to the organ of origin.

27
Q

What defines Stage II cancer?

A

Cancer is locally invasive.

28
Q

What defines Stage III cancer?

A

Cancer has spread to regional structures, such as lymph nodes.

29
Q

What defines Stage IV cancer?

A

Cancer has spread to distant sites in the body.

30
Q

How common is childhood cancer, and when are its peak occurrence times?

A

Childhood cancer is rare, with death from it even rarer. Peaks occur in children under 5 and adolescents aged 15–19.

31
Q

When are childhood cancers often diagnosed?

A

They are often diagnosed during periods of peak physical growth.

32
Q

According to a 2023 report, what are the most common cancer types among children?

A

The most common types include leukemia, brain and other nervous system tumors, and lymphoma.

33
Q

From what tissue type do most childhood cancers originate?

A

Most childhood cancers originate from the mesodermal germ layer, which forms connective tissue, bone, cartilage, muscle, blood, blood vessels, gonads, kidneys, and the lymphatic system.

34
Q

What are embryonic tumors?

A

Tumors that originate during intrauterine development and contain cells that cannot differentiate into functional cells.

35
Q

What does the root term “-blast” signify in cancer types?

A

It indicates an embryonic tumor, such as in neuroblastoma or retinoblastoma.

36
Q

How do childhood cancers typically behave compared to adult cancers?

A

Childhood cancers are often fast-growing and may have metastasized before diagnosis.

37
Q

What are examples of childhood cancers that arise from the mesodermal germ layer?

A

Cancers such as osteosarcoma (bone cancer), neuroblastoma (nervous system), and leukemia (blood and blood vessels) are examples.

38
Q

Why is cancer predominantly a disease of aging?

A

As age increases, so does the risk of cancer due to the accumulation of genetic mutations over time.

39
Q

What is clonal proliferation or expansion in cancer?

A

A process where a mutated stem cell gains selective advantage over neighboring cells, leading to increased growth rate or decreased apoptosis.

40
Q

What often induces the mutations leading to cancer?

A

Mutations can be induced by genotoxic chemicals or infections.

41
Q

What causes cancer at the genetic level?

A

A mutation in DNA, often combined with behavioral or environmental factors, leads to the production of abnormal cells.

42
Q

What are point mutations, and how do they contribute to cancer?

A

Point mutations involve a single base change, insertion, or deletion in DNA/RNA. Multiple point mutations can contribute to cancer development.

43
Q

What are “drive” mutations?

A

Mutations that provide a selective growth advantage and drive the progression of cancer, affecting genes critical to cell growth and survival.

44
Q

What are “passenger” mutations?

A

Mutations that occur alongside a drive mutation in a cancerous cell but do not directly contribute to cancer progression.

45
Q

What is gene amplification, and how does it relate to cancer?

A

An increase in the number of copies of a gene, which can drive cancer growth. Example: HER-2 breast cancer involves over-copying of the HER-2 gene, leading to more HER-2 receptors that enable cancer growth.

46
Q

What is chromosome translocation, and how does it relate to cancer?

A

A large structural change where a piece of one chromosome is transferred to another, contributing to cancers like leukemias and lymphomas.

47
Q

What is malignant transformation?

A

The process where a normal cell becomes cancerous after multiple mutations, often leading to pre-cancerous cells and tissues, such as actinic keratosis or colon polyps.

48
Q

What are examples of pre-cancerous tissues?

A

Actinic keratosis and colon polyps.

49
Q

What is the difference between drive mutations and passenger mutations?

A

Drive mutations promote cancer progression by providing growth advantages, while passenger mutations coexist in the cancerous cell but do not drive cancer initiation or progression.

50
Q

How does HER-2 gene amplification contribute to breast cancer?

A

It leads to an increase in HER-2 receptors, which promote abnormal cell growth in breast cancer.

51
Q

What role does environmental exposure play in cancer etiology?

A

Environmental factors can induce mutations in DNA, contributing to the development of abnormal and cancerous cells.

52
Q

How many mutations are typically required for cancer to develop?

A

Multiple mutations are needed before a cell becomes cancerous.

pathophysiology (54 decks)

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