Neoplasia

Question 1

oncogene

Answer 1

–will update–

Question 2

tumor suppressor genes

Answer 2

–will update–

Question 3

hyperplasia

Answer 3

–will update–

Question 4

dyspasia

Answer 4

–will update–

Question 5

metaplasia

Answer 5

change of one matured cell type to another cell type based on external stimuli: a reversible process

Question 6

carcinoma in situ

Answer 6

the progression of malignant growth is as follows: hyperplasia, atypia, carcinoma in suti, primary cancer, and metastisis. At the stage of carcinoma in situ, there is abnormal growth of atypical cells, but they are IN PLACE. They are still where they are supposed to be. The standard for this stage is whether or not the growth has broken through the basement membrane of whatever tissue it is.

Question 7

invasive carcinoma

Answer 7

At this point, the abnormal cells have increased in motility and have been able to cross the basement membrane into surrounding tissue. They are still in the same location in that they have not spread to a different organ, just a different type of tissue.

Question 8

metastatic carcinoma

Answer 8

The hallmark of malignancy. A cancer that has metastasized has increased motility to the point where it has left the site of primary cancer, traveled through the lymphatic system, into the vessels, and has found a new home and continued to divide grow

Question 9

hypertrophy

Answer 9

increase in the size of a tissue or organ based on the increase in the size of the cells

Question 10

neoplasm/neoplasia

Answer 10

abnormal mass of cells that grows at the expense of the host and is caused at least in part by genetic abnormalities of the involved cells

Question 11

anaplasia

Answer 11

Loss of differentiation. This is a very worrisome sign in oncology. Cells that differentiate show that the normal pathway of development is at least partly intact. Anaplastic cells do not go through development and are frequently mitotic. Anaplastic tumors are always malignant.

Question 12

adjuvant

Answer 12

systemic treatment given after local measures were taken. For example, in breast cancer, a patient could have surgery (localized treatment), but still undergo chemotherapy (systemic) in order to kill any cells that were possibly missed and avoid the statistical relapse.

Question 13

neoadjuvant

Answer 13

a neoadjuvant is an adjuvant therapy administered before the main treatment. It could be chemotherapy or hormone therapy given the type of tumor in order to atrophy the growth, thus making surgery a possibility or one that is more likely to succeed.

Question 14

remission

Answer 14

in terms of cancer, remission indicates that there is no measureable disease activity. However, it is not said to be cured as the return of the cancer is possible or even probable.

Question 15

cure

Answer 15

difficult to “cure” cancer, as that would mean that 100% of cancerous cells would have to be wiped out, but it’s possible (effective therapy)