Cancer Patho/Pharmacology

Question 1

Oncology

Answer 1

Branch of medicine that deals with prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer (cancer biology).

Question 2

Cancer

Answer 2

Large group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells (malignant neoplasm).

Question 3

Neoplasm

Answer 3

Heritably altered, relatively autonomous growth of tissue (new growth).

Question 4

Tumor

Answer 4

Any swelling or mass of tissue occupying a volume of space.

Question 5

Benign

Answer 5

Non-invasive and focal characteristics. Relatively differentiated.

Question 6

Malignant

Answer 6

Dedifferentiated, invasive, and/or metastatic cancer.

Question 7

Carcinoma

Answer 7

• Most common cancer
• Cells that cover external/internal body surfaces
• Lung, breast, prostate, and colon

Question 8

Sarcomas

Answer 8

• Cancer arising from cells found in supporting tissues of the body
• Bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle

Question 9

Lymphomas

Answer 9

Cancers that arise in the lymph nodes and tissues of the body’s immune system.

Question 10

Blastomas

Answer 10

Cancers of primitive, incompletely differentiated cells resembling the precursor cells of the cancer.

Question 11

Melanoma

Answer 11

• Cancer originating in melanocytes

- Melanocytes are located in the stratum germinativum of the epidermis and produce melanin

Question 12

Early Neoplasm Progression

Answer 12

• Goes through Initiation, Promotion, and Progression
• Before the neoplasm has invaded beyond certain boundaries and remains localized, it can be considered preneoplastic lesion

Question 13

Invasion/Metastasis

Answer 13

• Invasion: cancer cells invade surrounding tissues and blood vessels
• Metastasis: cancer cells are transported by the circulatory system to distant sites
• Cancer cells reinvade and grow at new location

Question 14

Tumor Grading

Answer 14

• Measure of cancer’s antiplastic characteristics (reversion of differentiation)
• Based on resemblance of neoplasm to the tissue of origin

Question 15

Tumor Staging

Answer 15

Assess cancer progression by:

1. Size of tumor and how deeply it has invaded surrounding tissues
2. Spreading of cancer cells to regional lymph nodes
3. Metastasis of cancer to other regions of the body

Question 16

Principles of Cancer Chemotherapy

Answer 16

1. Anti-proliferation
2. Differential sensitivity
3. Characteristics of cancer chemotherapy

Question 17

Anti-proliferation

Answer 17

• Cancer cells don’t divide faster but are more actively dividing
• Higher growth fraction

Question 18

Differential Sensitivity

Answer 18

Chemotherapy needs to be more cytotoxic to the neoplastic cells compared to normal cells

Question 19

Characteristics of Cancer Chemotherapies

Answer 19

• Goal: Rid body of neoplastic cells, prevent their growth, shrink the neoplasm, increase survival
• Narrow Therapeutic Index
• Palliation: alleviate symptoms of cancer and reduce life-threatening toxicity to improve QoL

Question 20

Factors Affecting Response to Chemotherapy

Answer 20

1. Tumor Burden
2. Tumor Cell Heterogeneity
3. Drug Resistance
4. Dose Intensity
5. Patient-specific Factors

Question 21

Tumor Burden

Answer 21

• Larger tumors have lower growth fractions
• Less responsiveness
• Greater propensity to metastasize

Question 22

Tumor Cell Heterogeneity

Answer 22

Genetic changes to cells cause significant cellular variation

Question 23

Drug Resistance

Answer 23

Inherited or acquired resistance to chemotherapy

Question 24

Dose Intensity

Answer 24

Intended chemotherapy doses may not be given due to toxicity

Question 25

Patient-Specific Factors

Answer 25

Intended chemotherapy doses may not be given due to toxicity