Exam 1: Oncology 1

Question 1

Cancer is a large group of diseases characterized by:

Answer 1

• uncontrolled cell proliferation

- spread of abnormal cells

Question 2

% of cancers that are genetic

Answer 2

5%

Question 3

95% of cancers are caused by a mix of

Answer 3

Modifiable and non-modifiable factors

Question 4

There are over 250 forms of cancer, with different characteristics depending on

Answer 4

Site of origin

Question 5

Metastasis =

Answer 5

Invasion and spread of cells from the original site to other sites

Question 6

How long after an initial bout of cancer can metastasis occur?

Answer 6

As late as 15-20 years after initial dx and intervention

Question 7

Up to 70% of autopsies of pts who died from cancer show:

Answer 7

Spinal metastasis

Question 8

Metastases cause ____% of cancer deaths

Answer 8

90

Question 9

What 3 processes regulate cell numbers?

Answer 9

• Cell division
• Cell differentiation
• Apoptosis

Question 10

Any cellular mutations can affect the processes of division, differentiation, and apoptosis, leading to abnormalities in

Answer 10

Cell numbers

Question 11

Normal cell differentiation: What is it?

Answer 11

Process by which cells specialize in different structural or physiologic functions

Question 12

With cancer (abnormal) differentiation, how does a malignant cell compare to the parent cell?

Answer 12

May or may not even be recognizable in its relationship to the parent cell

Question 13

What is an anaplastic cell?

Answer 13

• A cell that is so different, it is deemed to be undifferentiated
• Shape shifter

Question 14

Why are anaplastic cells problematic for chemo?

Answer 14

Chemotherapy can’t grab onto it to work

Question 15

A less differentiated cell means this with respect to metastasis and prognosis

Answer 15

• faster metastasis

- worse prognosis

Question 16

What are the classifications of abnormal cells?

Answer 16

• Metaplasia
• Dysplasia
• Hyperplasia
• Anaplasia
• Neoplasia

Question 17

What is metaplasia?

Answer 17

Replacement of one differentiated cell type with another mature differentiated cell type

Question 18

Is metaplasia malignant?

Answer 18

No

Question 19

What can easily follow metaplasia?

Answer 19

Dysplasia

Question 20

Why would cells undergo metaplasia?

Answer 20

May switch to making another cell type in response to some stress

Reversible

Question 21

What is Dysplasia

Answer 21

Expansion of immature cells with a decrease in number and location of mature cells

Question 22

What does dysplasia usually signal?

Answer 22

Pre-cancerous process

Question 23

What is hyperplasia? Is it always cancerous?

Answer 23

• Increased number of cells, which may or may not signal a pre-cancerous or cancerous process
• Not always cancerous
• Could be as benign as a callous

Question 24

What is an anaplastic cell?

Answer 24

Has poor/no differentiation

Question 25

What is a neoplasia? Is it always malignant?

Answer 25

• “new growth”

- May be benign or malignant

Question 26

What characteristics describe tumors?

Answer 26

• Benign
• Malignant
• Primary
• Secondary

Question 27

What is a benign tumor?

Answer 27

Won’t metastasize to other locations

Question 28

Why are benign tumors potentially problematic?

Answer 28

• They are space occupying
• Can grow and crowd out other structures
• Can be fatal

Question 29

Primary tumor

Answer 29

Within tissue of origin

Question 30

Secondary tumor

Answer 30

Occurs as a result of metastasis