Neoplasia

Question 1

metastatic tropism for: 
colon and spleen
breast
pancreas
prostate 
GI
(answer in order of appearance!)

Answer 1

liver (due to the circulation layout!)
lungs and bones
liver
bones

Question 2

mechanisms of tropism

Answer 2

Some tumor cells have adhesion molecules

Some tumor cells have chemokine receptors

The microenvironment of an organ might not be suitable

circulation layout

Question 3

how tumors avoid imm sys

Answer 3

T cells do not recognize tumors since tumors do not produce antigens or they lack expression of MHC

inhibiting T cell activation

Question 4

LOH is mainly associated with which types of genes

Answer 4

tumor suppressor genes (RB, P53)

Question 5

functions of p53

Answer 5

Detecting DNA damage
Arresting the cell cycle
If DNA can be repaired, the cell undergoes S phase
If DNA cannot be repaired, p53 induces cellular apoptosis

Question 6

effects of therapy-induced inflammation

Answer 6

necrosis of malignant cells
-> the release of necrotic products and DAMPs

cytokines activate pro-survival genes in residual cancer cells -> resistant cancer cells

Question 7

Molecular genetics of metastases

Answer 7

variant clones
metastatic signature
variant + signiture
role of tumor stroma

Question 8

genomic instability

Answer 8

genomic abnormalities affecting cell division, DNA repair and tumor suppressor genes

Question 9

Master regulator of angiogenesis

Answer 9

HIF

Question 10

categorization of tumor cells’ apoptotic tendency

Answer 10

primed -> more pro-

unprimed -> more anti-

Question 11

tumor cells’ cellular energy production

Answer 11

aerobic glycolysis w or w/o O2

Question 12

oncogenes’ functions

Answer 12

promoting proliferation despite damaged DNA

inhibiting apoptosis

Question 13

steps in chemical carcinogenesis

Answer 13

initiation, promotion and progression

Question 14

UV rays carcinogenesis

Answer 14

formation of CPDs and 6-4PPs

Question 15

Ionizing carcinogenesis

Answer 15

direct: damage to sugar component and strand breaks
indirect: ROS damage

Question 16

OncoKB clinical usefulness

Answer 16

Sequencing tumors

Identifying driver mutations

Determining which mutation can be targeted by drugs

Question 17

personalized mRNA cancer vaccines

Answer 17

Identification of tumor cells’ genetic mutations that could produce neoantigens

predict which neoantigens are most likely to T cells and stimulate an immune response

Question 18

pathophys of cachexia

Answer 18

Reduced dietary intake/absorption

Cytokines, inflammation and hypermetabolic state

Lipolysis and lipid mobilizing factor

Cancer treatment contribution

Genetics

Question 19

mechanisms and examples of the following paran. syndromes:

Cushing's
hypercalcemia 
hyponatremia 
polycythemia 
hypoglycemia 

(answer in the order of appearance!)

Answer 19

ACTH-like subst., lung cancer
PTH-like subst., lung cancer 
SIADH, lung cancer 
Erythropoietin-like substance, renal cell ca
insulin-like subst.

Question 20

mechanisms of paran. hypercalcemia

Answer 20

PTHrP
Osteolytic metastases
inflammation
tumor release of calcitriol

Question 21

pathophys of Paraneoplastic neurologic nyndromes

Answer 21

High association with antibodies directed against intracellular neuronal
Examples: Hu (aka type 1 anti-neuronal nuclear antibody [ANNA-1]), Ri (aka type 2 anti-neuronal nuclear antibody [ANNA-2])

Antibodies directed against neuronal cell surface
Example: antibodies against the anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor

Question 22

staging

grading

Answer 22

size as spread

differentiation

Question 23

liquid biopsy: ctDNA

Answer 23

a biomarker that gives us cancers’ genetic and epigenetics info

obtained by apoptosis, necrosis and/or secretion

Question 24

liquid biopsy: CTCs

Answer 24

in the blood and have the potential to metastasize