Exam 4- Oncology/GI Flashcards
Are proto-oncogene good or bad genes to have? and why?
Good- It control the growth of cells
Are oncogene good or bad genes to have? and why?
Bad- Mutated proto-oncogene which leads to uncontrolled cell growth
Are tumor suppressor genes good or bad genes to have and why?
- Good- slows down cellular division, cause cell death
Are mutated tumor suppressor genes good or bad and why?
Bad– leads to uncontrolled cell growth
Well differentiated cells resemble….. what?
- Normal cells
Well differentiated cells function like?
“more like normal cells”
What is a growth rate for a well differentiated cell?
- Grows at a slower rate
True or false: Well differentiated cells are typically benign?
- True
Poorly differentiated cells resemble…. what?
- Does not resemble normal cells
Which cells are mature cells and which are immature out of a well differentiate and poorly differentiated cell?
- Well differentiated = mature
- Poorly differentiated = immature
Poorly differentiated cells function likeeee…
- They lack structure (immature)/function and g
True or false: Poorly differentiated cells a less aggressive than well differentiated?
False- Poorly differentiated are more aggresive
True or false: Poorly differentiated cells are typically malignant?
True
What is a benign tumor?
- Benign (not cancer) tumor cells grown only locally and cannot spread by invasion or metastasis
What is a malignant tumor?
- Malignant (cancer) cells invade neighboring tissues, enter blood vessels, and metastasize to different sites
what is the mode & rate of growth of a benign tumor with well differentiated cells?
- Expands, usually encapsulated
- usually slow growth
What is the mode & rate of growth of a malignant tumor with undifferentiated cells?
- Sends out projections that infiltrate and destroy growth rate variable
Do benign tumors metastasize?
no- not typical
Can a malignant tumor metastasizes?
- Yes
With benign tumors what are the general effects?
Usually localized to the area
With malignant tumors what are the general effects?
- Generalized: anemia, weakness, weight loss
With benign tumors what kind of destruction do we expect?
- Usually non unless blood flow is impaired
With malignant tumors what kind of destruction do we expect to see?
- Often extensive; excretes toxins, uses up blood supply
What is the morbidity of a benign tumors?
- Minimal- unless location interferes with vital function
What is the morbidity of a malignant tumor?
- High- unless growth and spread controlled/halted
Review cancer prefixes
- Adeno- gland
- Chondro- cartilage
- Erythro- red blood cell
- hemangio- blood vessels
- hepato- liver
- lipo- fat
- lympho- lymphocyte
- melano- pigment cell
- myelo- bone marrow
- myo- muscle
- Osteo- bone
What are two ways that cancer speads?
- Locally invasive
- Metastasis
What does it mean if a cancer spreads locally invasive?
- “finger” of cancer cells invade surrounding tissues
What does it mean if a cancer metastasizes?
- Malignant cells travel through blood or lymph system & invade other tissues or organs to form secondary tumor
What are four common sites of mets?
- Brain
- Lung
- Liver
- Bone
What are some risk factors for cancer?
- Tobacco and smoking
- Diet and obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Occupational exposure
- family history
- Viruses
- Perinatal factors/growth
- Alcohol
- Socioeconomic status
- Pollution
- UV radiation
- Drugs & medical procedures
- Salt, Food additives and contaminant
What do we need to know about family history as a risk factor of cancer?
- Hallmark of hereditary cancer syndrome
- Cancer in 2 or more relatives
- Cancer in family members < 50 years old
- Same type of cancer in multiple family members
- Rare type of cancer in 1 or more family members
- Family members with more than 1 type of cancer
What do we need to know about viruses as a risk factor of cancer?
- Difficult to evaluate and isolate
2.May incorporate in the genetic structure of cells - Delay of many years form initial viral infection to the development of cancer
- Must act in conjunction with other factors in order to develop into cancer
- Number of persons infected with viruses is more larger than those numbers who develop cancer
The HPV virus can cause what type of cancer?
- Cervical cancer
The hepatitis B/Hepatitis c virus can cause what type of cancer?
- Liver cancer
The Epstein-Barr can cause what type of cancer?
- Lymphoma
The human herpes virus 8 can cause what type of cancer?
- Kaposi’s sarcoma
The HIV virus can cause what type of cancer?
- Lymphoma, kaposi’s sarcoma
The h-pylori virus can cause what type of cancers?
- Stomach ulcers, lymphoma in the stomach lining.
Hormone replacement therapy with estrogen and progestin showed to have an increase risk in developing what kinds of cancers?
- Ovarian
- Breast
- Uterine
- Lung
- Brain
- Colon
What is primary prevention?
- Health promotion & illness prevention
- Reduction of cancer mortality via reduction in the incidence of cancer
How is primary prevention accomplished?
- Avoiding the carcinogen
- Adequate & Proper nutrition
- Stress reduction
- Lifestyle changes
- Dietary changes
What is secondary prevention?
- Screening (self breast & testicular exams)
- Diagnosis & Treatment of illness
What is the goal of secondary prevention?
- Halt the progress of cancer through early screening & diagnosis.
What is tertiary prevention?
- Disease treatment and rehabilitation
- Health restoration
What is the goal of tertiary prevention?
- Prevent further deterioration
What is chemoprevention?
- The use of substances to lower risk of cancer
- Selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERMs)
What are two examples of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)
- Tamoxifen & raloxifene: reduce risk of breast cancer
- Selenium: reduced risk of prostate cancer
What is the goal of cancer screenings?
Goal: find cancer in the early stages
1. Look for cancer before symptoms appear
What types of screening can they do for cancer?
- Physical exam
- Lab tests
- Imaging procedures
- Genetic testing
What are the colorectal screening guidelines?
- Beginning at age 45, men & women should follow one of the examination schedules
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT): yearly
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy: Every 5 years\
- Colonoscopy: every 10 years
What are some breast cancer screenings guidelines
- 20+ monthly SBE
- 40-44: Breast exam by HCP every 3 years
- 45-54: HCP breast exam & mammo yearly
- 55- every two years
- Women at high risk for breast Ca: MRI/mammo yearly
What are the cervical cancer screening guidelines?
- Age 21 or within 3 years of initiating vaginal intercourse
-pap test every 2-3 years- if dysplasia notes- pap test annually
- Age 30+
- Pap test & HPV every 5 years or every 3yrs with pap test only
- 60+
- not necessary if all previous test negative
- Hysterectomy
- Continue pap test to r/o vaginal or vulvar cancer
What are the 7 warning signs of cancer? (remember C-a-u-t-i-o-n )
- C- change in bowel or bladder habits
2.A- A sore that does not heal - U- Unusual bleeding or discharge
- T- Thickening or lump in breast or some where else
- I- Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
- O- obvious change in wart or mole
- N- nagging cough or hoarseness
What is “grade” in terms of cancer?
- Pathologist compares the appearance of cancer cells to the normal surrounding cells
What is staging in terms of cancer?
- Classifying a malignancy by the extent of spread within the body
What are the different grades?
- GX
- G1
- G2
- G3
- G4
What is a GX grade?
- Can not be assessed
What is a G1 grade?
- (low grade): well differentiated, slow growing
What is a G2 grade?
- Moderate grade: Moderately differentiated growing slightly faster
What is a G3 grade?
- High grade: poorly differentiated, growing faster
What is a G4 grade?
- High Grade: undifferentiated, not distinct at all, very aggressive
What is a stage 1?
- Small cancer found only in organs where it originated
What is stage 2?
- Larger cancer that may/may not have spread to the lymph nodes
What is a stage 3?
1.Larger cancer also in the lymph nodes
What is stage 4
Cancer has spread from original site into other organs
TNM system of staging… what does T- N- M stand for?
- T= size of primary tumor
- N= Number of lymph nodes involved
- M= extent of metastasis
What is TX in tumor size?
- Tumor size can’t be measured
What is TO in tumor sizing?
- No primary tumor, or cant be found
What is “tis” in tumor sizing?
- Tumor is “in situ”
What is T1 in tumor sizing?
Small or early stage
What is T2 in tumor sizing?
- Confined to original area
What is T3 in tumor sizing?
1.Has spread t surrounding tissues
What is t4 in tumor sizing?
- Large, advanced stage cancer
True or false: TNM classification reflects the depth of tumor infiltration
True
NX is what in staging number of nodes?
- Nearby nodes can’t be tested/evaluated
N0 is what in staging number of nodes?
- Lymph nodes are cancer free
N1 is what in staging number of nodes?
- Cancer cells have reached one node
N2 is what in staging number of nodes?
- Cancer spread to more than one node
N3 is what in staging number of nodes?
- Cancer in lymph nodes extensive/widespread
MX is what in staging extent of mets?
- Unknown if cancer has spread
M0 is what in staging extent of mets?
- No distant mets were found
M1 Is what in staging extent of mets?
- Cancer has spread to one or more dsitant parts of the body
What does “In situ” mean?
- Still in the original tissue layer
What does localized mean in terms of staging?
- Still in original organ
What does regional mean in terms of staging?
- Spread to nearby lymph nodes or organs
What does distant mean in term of staging?
- Spread to distant body parts
What do we need to know about tumor markers?
- Molecules associated with cancer cells
- Found in blood, urine, tumor tissue
- Different markers found in different tumors
What are tumor markers used for?
- Screen
- Diagnose (in conjunction with other tests)
- Treat (determine if body responding to treatment)
- Determine prognosis
- Monitor for recurrence
What can Carcinoembryonic antigen CEA tell us?
- Associated with tumors & developing fetus
- Increased levels found in cancers of
- colon, pancreas, gastric, lung, breast
- Increased levels found in certain conditions
- Cirrhosis, IBD, Chronic lung disease, pancreatitis