Nelson Molecular basis of Neoplasia

Question 1

Four classes of normal regulatory genes that are the principal targets of cancer causing mutations?

Answer 1

1. growth promoting proto-oncogenes
2. growth inhibiting tumor suppressor genes
3. genes that regulate apoptosis
4. genes involves in DNA repair

Question 2

Mutation that contributes to the development of malignant phenotype?

Answer 2

Driver mutation

Question 3

Mutations that have no phenotypic consequence?

Answer 3

Passenger mutations

Question 4

8 Hallmarks of Cancer:

Answer 4

1. Self-sufficiency in growth signals
2. Insensitivity to growth inhibitory signals (inactivation of tumor suppressor genes)
3. Altered cellular metabolism (the Warburg effect)
4. Evasion of apoptosis
5. Limitless replicative potential
6. Sustained angiogenesis
7. Ability to invade and metastasize
8. Ability to evade host immune response

Question 5

t(9;22) translocation on ABL gene associated with:

Answer 5

CML

Question 6

Amplification of HER 2/neu associated with:

Answer 6

Breast carcinoma (marker of aggressiveness)

25% of breast cancers overexpress HER-2/neu

Question 7

Point mutation in RAS associated with:

Answer 7

Leukemia

Lung, colon, pancreatic carcinomas

Question 8

BRAF mutation associated with:

Answer 8

melanomas

Question 9

KIT mutation associated with:

Answer 9

GI stromal tumors

activation of tyrosine kinase receptor c-KIT

Question 10

KRAS mutations are found in 40% of:

Answer 10

Colorectal cancer

Question 11

Amplification of N-MYC = ?

Answer 11

neuroblastoma

Question 12

Detection of ________ fusion is diagnostic of CML.

Answer 12

BCR-ABL

Question 13

EGFR activating mutation and rearrangement of ALK direct therapy in___________.

Answer 13

lung adenocarcinoma

Question 14

JAK2 tyrosine kinase mutations = ?

Answer 14

Myeloproliferative disorders

Question 15

Difference between Tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes with respect to growth inhibition?

Answer 15

Tumor suppressor genes require both alleles to be knocked out: “two hit” hypothesis

Question 16

APC is a ____________ associated with ________.

Answer 16

tumor suppressor gene

colorectal carcinoma

Question 17

BRCA1/BRCA2 regulates ___________ and is associated with ________________.

Answer 17

DNA repair

breast, ovary, prostate carcinoma

Question 18

“molecular policeman” that prevents propagation of genetically damaged cells:

Answer 18

p53

**most frequently mutated gene in human cancers

Question 19

Aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells is known as:

Answer 19

The Warburg effect

**visualized on PET scan with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose

Question 20

Anit-apoptotic gene product that protects lymphocytes. Overexpressed due to t(14;18) translocation in 85% of B-cell lymphomas:

Answer 20

BCL2

**involved in intrinsic (mitochondrial) pathway

Question 21

BCL2 positive lymph node follicles stain?

Answer 21

dark brown

Question 22

Maintenance of ____________ by ___________ gives cancer cells limitless proliferative potential by evading mitotic crisis.

Answer 22

telomeres, upregulated telomerase

Question 23

Key angiogenic promoter:

Answer 23

VEGF

Question 24

Cell mediated immunity is the dominant anti-tumor mechanism. Which cells are involved?

Answer 24

CD8s, NKs, Macs

Question 25

“Holy grail” of oncology?

Answer 25

Getting host immune cells to fight cancer