Module One: Fundamentals of Cancer

Question 1

Parenchyme

Answer 1

A portion of tissue that lies outside the circulatory system and is often responsible for carrying out specialised functions of tissue

Question 2

Mesenchyme

Answer 2

Tissue of mesodermal origin, includes fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and immunocytes

Question 3

All tumours have two basic components:

Answer 3

• Clonal neoplastic cells that constitute their parenchyma
• reactive stroma made up of connective tissue, blood vessels and variable numbers of macrophages and lymphocytes - both contribute to a tumours behaviour and pathological consequences

Question 4

Neoplasm

Answer 4

An ABNORMAL MASS OF TISSUE, the GROWTH of which EXCEEDS and is UNCOORDINATED with that of the normal tissues and PERSISTS in the same excessive manner after CESSATION OF THE STIMULI which evoked the change

Question 5

Features of a benign neoplasm

Answer 5

Remains localised, cannot spread to other sites and is generally amenable to surgical resection

Question 6

Features of a malignant neoplasm

Answer 6

Can invade and destroy adjacent structures and spread to distant sites (metastasise) to cause death