Lecture 1

Question 1

Characteristics of malignant cells

Answer 1

–Self-sufficiency in growth signals
–Insensitivity to anti-growth signals
–Evasion of apoptosis
–Limitless replicative potential
–Sustained angiogenesis
–Tissue invasion and metastasis

Question 2

Stem cell theory of cancer

Answer 2

• Tumors contain a small subset of pluripotential stem cells capable of indefinite self-renewal
• Most tumor cells are actively dividing
• Many tumor cells are differentiating
• Most tumor cells have a defined life-span
• Stem cells are the sustaining population

Question 3

mutation or epigenetic change

Answer 3

altering the genetic code of a somatic cell endowing it with limitless replicative potential or another growth or survival advantage

Question 4

Steps of transformation

Answer 4

–Initiation (initial change, rapid)
–Promotion (more mutations or changes, can be over years, can be stimulated by the initiating agent or normal growth factors or hormones)
–Progression (more mutations toward more malignant phenotype)

Question 5

3 basic cell types on cytology

Answer 5

epithelium (Adenomas, adenocarcinomas)
mesenchymal cells (Soft tissue sarcomas, Osteosarcoma)
round cells (Lymphosarcoma, Mast cell, TVT, some Melanomas, Histiocytic sarcomas)

Question 6

characteristics of epithelial cells on cytology

Answer 6

–exfoliate in clumps
–cell-to-cell attachments
–cell walls visible

Question 7

characteristics of round cells on cytology

Answer 7

–exfoliate singly
–cell walls easily visible
–round cells with round nuclei

Question 8

characteristics of mesenchymal cells on cytology

Answer 8

–Exfoliate poorly
–cell borders indistinct
–cells elongated and spindle-shaped
–nucleus elongated