Inntroduction to Oncology

Question 1

What are the most common cancers in women

Answer 1

Breast, lung, colon and rectum

Question 2

What are the most common cancers in men

Answer 2

Prostate, lung, colon and rectum

Question 3

What is the cancer that causes the most death in the united states

Answer 3

Lung and bronchus

Question 4

What are the two key unique elements of cancer

Answer 4

Uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells

Question 5

T/F: The key cause for cancer cells to have uncontrolled growth and abnormal is a single mutation that grows into multiple mutations

Answer 5

True

Question 6

T/F: Cancers that look more irregular (more mutational burden) are easier to eradicate with chemotherapy

Answer 6

False: The larger mutational burden the more irregularity and the harder they are to eradicate

Question 7

What are the three tissue origins of malignant tissue, place in order of occurrence

Answer 7

Epithelial tissue: carcinoma, connective tissue: sarcomas, hematologic malignancies/ epithelial tissue, hematologic, connective tissue

Question 8

What two cancers are most common for having a hereditary link

Answer 8

Breast and colon

Question 9

What is metastasis

Answer 9

Spread of NEOPLASTIC CELLS FROM THE PRIMARY TUMOR SITE to distant sites where new tumor forms

Question 10

T/F: If a patient has a cancer that metastasis the distant site will have tumor identical to itself

Answer 10

False: When metastasis occurs the tumore that forms in the distant site will look IDENTICAL TO THE TUMOR FROM THE PRIMARY SITE

Question 11

What are the two primary pathways of spread

Answer 11

Hematogenous and Lymphatic

Question 12

What is angiogenesis, how does this relate to cancer

Answer 12

Formation of new blood vessels, malignant cells and surrounding tissue secrete substances that stimulate formation of new blood vessels to provide oxygen and nutrients to the cancer cells

Question 13

What is the central regulator of angiogenesis, what drug is used to block this

Answer 13

VEGF, Bevacizumab

Question 14

What are the two types of gene mutations in cancer

Answer 14

germline mutations: inheritable mutations that can cause cancer family sndromes
somatic mutations: nonheritable mutations that are aquired and common for all cancers

Question 15

What are the two pathways to cancer

Answer 15

Genetic: Alterations or mutations IN DNA which affect specific genes associated with malignancy
Epigenetic: No mutations at the DNA but MODIFICATIONS leading to the silencing of genes

Question 16

What genes are implicated in cancer

Answer 16

Proto-oncogenes: present in all cells and essential regulators of normal cellular function -> mutation activates oncogene/ Oncogenes: A gene that promotes uncontrolled cell growth/ Tumor suppressor genes: inactivation causes cellular growth and proliferation/ DNA repair genes: genes that codes for proteins that fucntion to correct errors that arise when duplicate DNA prior to cell division

Question 17

What is the study of chromosomes

Answer 17

Cytogenetics

Question 18

T/F: When referring to chromosomes the short arm is q and short arm is p

Answer 18

True (p for petite)

Question 19

T/F: Epigenetic changes can be reversible

Answer 19

True

Question 20

What are cell processes that epigenetic mutations can effect

Answer 20

Celly cycle control, angiogenesis, cell migration, cellualr responses to DNA damage

Question 21

T/F: All turmors are the same

Answer 21

False: Each tumor has its own unique distinctions

Question 22

What is chemotherapy, how does it work

Answer 22

a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs as part of a regiment, interfere with the process of cellular division.

Question 23

Why is chemotherapy given in combination

Answer 23

Maximal chance for cure occurs when all available effective agents are given simultaneously (combine to not have overlapping toxicity)

Question 24

T/F: Chemotherapy is given all at once to kill the cancer

Answer 24

False: Administering enough to kill the tumor all at once may kill the patient, therefore therapy is administered at consistent intervals

Question 25

T/F: Signal transduction inhibitors have changed cancer treatment by targeting cancer at the MOLECULAR LEVEL

Answer 25

True