General Pathology of Cancer

Question 1

The cell cycle is regulated by what?

Answer 1

Cyclin Dependent Kinases (CDKs) and their inhibitors (CDKIs)

Question 2

Give an example of a drug which is an EGFR antagonist

Answer 2

Erlotinib

Question 3

Which condition is linked to germline mutations of tumour suppressor gene p53, leading to an increased of malignancy?

Answer 3

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome

Question 4

Give 1 example of a tumour suppressor gene

Answer 4

p53

Question 5

Give 2 examples of Proto-oncogenes

Answer 5

RAS

BRAF

Question 6

What is the inheritance pattern of Li-Fraumeni syndrome?

Answer 6

Autosomal dominant

Question 7

What are the high risk strains of HPV, causing cervical cancer?

Answer 7

16 and 18

Question 8

What are the low risk strains of HPV, causing anogenital warts

Answer 8

6 and 11

Question 9

How does HPV cause cancer?

Answer 9

Infects cervical epithelial cells where it produces viral proteins E1-E7. These proteins interact with cell cycle proteins and tumour suppressor genes

Question 10

Is H. Pylori gram negative or gram positive?

Answer 10

Gram negative

Question 11

Define “metaplasia”

Answer 11

Cell adaptation from one differentiated cell type to another differentiated cell type

Question 12

Where is glandular metaplasia commonly visualised? What is the common name for it? What is the cell type change?

Answer 12

In Oesophagus, called Barret’s Oesophagus

Changes from Squamous lined to Columnar lined

Question 13

Define “dysplasia”

Answer 13

Abnormal cytological appearance and tissue architecture

Question 14

What is the name given to benign and malignant fibrous tissue?

Answer 14

Fibroma

Fibrosarcoma

Question 15

What is the name given to benign and malignant bone tissue?

Answer 15

Osteoma

Osteosarcoma

Question 16

What is the name given to benign and malignant cartilage?

Answer 16

Chondroma

Chondrosarcoma

Question 17

What is the name given to benign and malignant adipose tissue?

Answer 17

Lipoma

Liposarcoma

Question 18

What is the name given to benign and malignant smooth muscle?

Answer 18

Leiomyoma

Leiomyosarcoma

Question 19

What is the name given to benign and malignant skeletal muscle?

Answer 19

Rhabdomyoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Question 20

Define “Teratoma”

Answer 20

A tumour containing all three embryological germ cell layers (endoderm, ectoderm, mesoderm)

Question 21

The routes of metastasis which a cancer can take can be divided into what three groups?

Answer 21

• Haematogenous (blood)
• Lymphatic (lymph)
• Transcoelomic (coelemic space)

Question 22

What are the two types of Lymphoid malignancy?

Answer 22

Lymphoma

Leukaemia

Question 23

What is the difference between a Lymphoma and Leukaemia?

Answer 23

Both are lymphoid malignancies, but Lymphomas are tumour masses and Leukaemias are circulating cells

Question 24

In TNM cancer staging, what does Tis mean?

Answer 24

Carcinoma in situ

Question 25

In TNM cancer staging, what does T1 mean?

Answer 25

Limited to mucosa and submucosa

Question 26

In TNM cancer staging, what does T2 mean?

Answer 26

Extension into but not through muscularis propria

Question 27

In TNM cancer staging, what does T3 mean?

Answer 27

Invasion of peri-rectal fat

Question 28

In TNM cancer staging, what does T4 mean?

Answer 28

Invasion of adjacent structures

Question 29

Which one has a higher grade, a well differentiated or poorly differentated tumour?

Answer 29

Poorly differentiated tumours are higher grade

Question 30

Define “anaplasia”?

Answer 30

Malignant neoplasm composed of undifferentiated cells

Question 31

In TNM cancer staging, what does N1 mean?

Answer 31

Less than 4 regional lymph nodes are involved

Question 32

In TNM cancer staging, what does N2 mean?

Answer 32

More than 4 regional lymph nodes are involved

Question 33

In TNM cancer staging, what does N3 mean?

Answer 33

Distant nodes are involved