cancer objectives 1-3

Question 1

What is cancer?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is a neoplasm?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

How are malignant neoplasms classified?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

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

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Define anaplasia.

Answer 5

Anaplasia is the loss of cellular differentiation and function.

Question 6

What does pleomorphic mean in relation to cancer cells?

Answer 6

Pleomorphic cells are variable in size and shape.

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Benign tumors grow slowly, while malignant tumors grow rapidly.

Question 8

What is a defining feature of benign tumors regarding encapsulation?

Answer 8

Benign tumors have a well-defined capsule.

Question 9

Do benign tumors invade surrounding tissues?

Answer 9

No, benign tumors are non-invasive.

Question 10

How do malignant tumors differ in cell differentiation?

Answer 10

Malignant tumors are poorly differentiated, often showing anaplasia.

Question 11

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

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Can benign tumors metastasize?

Answer 12

No, benign tumors do not metastasize.

Question 13

Name two benign tumors that can cause significant issues.

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What suffix is commonly used for naming tumors?

Answer 14

“-oma” (e.g., lipoma, neuroblastoma).

Question 15

How are benign tumors typically named?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

How are malignant tumors named?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is a carcinoma?

Answer 17

Cancer originating in epithelial cells.

Question 18

What is an adenocarcinoma?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Define sarcoma.

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What is lymphoma?

Answer 20

Cancer of the lymphatic tissue.

Question 21

Define leukemia.

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What does carcinoma in situ (CIS) mean?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What are the possible outcomes for carcinoma in situ?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What factors are considered in cancer staging?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What is Stage 0 cancer?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What defines Stage I cancer?

Answer 26

Cancer is confined to the organ of origin.

Question 27

What defines Stage II cancer?

Answer 27

Cancer is locally invasive.

Question 28

What defines Stage III cancer?

Answer 28

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

Question 29

What defines Stage IV cancer?

Answer 29

Cancer has spread to distant sites in the body.

Question 30

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

Answer 30

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

Question 31

When are childhood cancers often diagnosed?

Answer 31

They are often diagnosed during periods of peak physical growth.

Question 32

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

Answer 32

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

Question 33

From what tissue type do most childhood cancers originate?

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

What are embryonic tumors?

Answer 34

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

Question 35

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

Answer 35

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

Question 36

How do childhood cancers typically behave compared to adult cancers?

Answer 36

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

Question 37

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

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Why is cancer predominantly a disease of aging?

Answer 38

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

Question 39

What is clonal proliferation or expansion in cancer?

Answer 39

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

Question 40

What often induces the mutations leading to cancer?

Answer 40

Mutations can be induced by genotoxic chemicals or infections.

Question 41

What causes cancer at the genetic level?

Answer 41

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

Question 42

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

Answer 42

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

Question 43

What are “drive” mutations?

Answer 43

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

Question 44

What are “passenger” mutations?

Answer 44

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

Question 45

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

Answer 45

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.

Question 46

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

Answer 46

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

Question 47

What is malignant transformation?

Answer 47

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.

Question 48

What are examples of pre-cancerous tissues?

Answer 48

Actinic keratosis and colon polyps.

Question 49

What is the difference between drive mutations and passenger mutations?

Answer 49

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.

Question 50

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

Answer 50

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

Question 51

What role does environmental exposure play in cancer etiology?

Answer 51

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

Question 52

How many mutations are typically required for cancer to develop?

Answer 52

Multiple mutations are needed before a cell becomes cancerous.