Cancer Overview

Question 1

Cancer is a group of diseases characterised by what three things?

Answer 1

Unregulated growth, invasion and spread of cancer cells from the site of origin.

Question 2

Define carcinoma.

Answer 2

Epithelial cell cancers.

Question 3

Define sarcoma.

Answer 3

Cancers derived from mesoderm cells.

Question 4

Define leukaemia.

Answer 4

Cancer of the blood forming organs.

Question 5

Define lymphoma.

Answer 5

Cancer of the lymphatic system.

Question 6

Define myeloma.

Answer 6

Cancer of plasma cells.

Question 7

Define neuroblastoma.

Answer 7

Cancer of neuroblasts.

Question 8

Define tumour.

Answer 8

Mutated cells that have lost regulation of cell division and form masses.

Question 9

Define benign.

Answer 9

Non-cancerous tumours that are non-invasive and do not affect other tissues.

Question 10

Define malignant.

Answer 10

Cancerous tumours that are invasive.

Question 11

Define angiogenesis.

Answer 11

The growth of new blood vessels that nourish tumours.

Question 12

Define metastasis.

Answer 12

The development of secondary malignant growths at a distance from a primary site of cancer.

Question 13

What are the seven hallmarks of cancer?

Answer 13

1. Growth signal autonomy.
2. Evasion of growth inhibitory signals.
3. Evasion of immune system.
4. Invasion and metastasis.
5. Unlimited replicative potential.
6. Angiogenesis.
7. Evasion of apoptosis.

Question 14

Define transformation.

Answer 14

The introduction of inheritable changes in a cell causing changes in the growth phenotype and immortalisation.

Question 15

State the stages of the cell cycle.

Answer 15

G0, G1, S, G2 and M.

Question 16

Why is the G2/M boundary a particularly important check point?

Answer 16

It acts as a commitment to cell division.

Question 17

State the function of the G1/S check point.

Answer 17

Detects DNA damage.

Question 18

State the function of the M check point.

Answer 18

Detects spindle fibre failure.

Question 19

In cancer cells, is contact inhibition of growth present or absent?

Answer 19

Absent.

Question 20

In cancer cells, are growth factor requirements high or low?

Answer 20

Low.

Question 21

In cancer cells, is anchorage-dependence present or absent?

Answer 21

Absent.

Question 22

In cancer cells, are cell cycle checkpoint intact or absent?

Answer 22

Absent.

Question 23

In cancer cells, is the karyotypic profile normal or abnormal?

Answer 23

Abnormal.

Question 24

In cancer cells, is the proliferative life span finite or indefinite?

Answer 24

Indefinite.

Question 25

What is the phenotype of cancer cells?

Answer 25

Loss of adhesion-dependent growth and contact inhibition.

Question 26

Define mutagen.

Answer 26

A factor which brings about a mutation.

Question 27

Define carcinogen.

Answer 27

Any agent that causes cancer.

Question 28

What are mutated genes that cause cancer called?

Answer 28

Oncogenes.