Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Resp Revision > Neoplasia > Flashcards

Neoplasia Flashcards

1
Q

Contrast the general features of benign vs malignant tumours

A

Benign: locally expansile, slow growth, often well circumscribed (+/- capsule), well differentiated cells, unable to metastasise
Malignant: locally invasive, often poorly circumscribed, can be necrotic, variable differentiation, potential to metastasise

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 3 main modes of metastasis?

A

Lymphatic
Haematogenous
Transcoelomic (through membranes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

List 8 histopathological features of neoplasia

A 
Large nuclei
Pleomorphic nuclei (vary in size and shape)
Coarser nuclear chromatin
Hyperchromatic nuclei
Prominent nucleoli
Abnormal mitotic figures
Architectural disorganisation
Desmoplastic stroma
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are anaplastic cells?

A

Completely undifferentiated cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What prefix is used for a glandular tumour?

A

Adeno

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What prefix is used for a smooth muscle tumour?

A

Leiomyo

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What prefix is used for a osteoblastic (osteoid-forming) tumour?

A

Osteo

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What suffix is used for a benign tumour?

A

-oma (there are some exceptions to this, e.g. lymphoma)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What suffix is used for a malignant epithelial tumour?

A

Carcinoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What suffix is used for a malignant mesenchymal tumour?

A

Sarcoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are 2 characteristic histological features of glandular tumours?

A

Formation of glandular lumina

Signet ring cells producing mucin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are 3 characteristic histological features of squamous cell tumours?

A

Eosinophilic cytoplasm
Keratinisation
Intercellular bridges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does tumour grade measure?

A

Degree of differentiation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is an in situ carcinoma?

A

Generally refers to severe (grade 3) dysplasia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How do neoplasms invade past the basement membrane?

A

Can degrade the BM via release of matrix metalloproteinases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

When are polyps commonly formed?

A

When glandular dysplastic lesions occur in epithelia lining organs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the 4 classes of normal regulatory genes relevant to carcinogenesis?

A

Growth-promoting proto-oncogenes
Growth-inhibiting TSGs
Genes regulating apoptosis
DNA repair genes

18
Q

Give 3 examples of TSGs

A

p53
Rb
APC

19
Q

Give 3 examples of oncogenes

A

HER2
Ras
Myc

20
Q

Given an example of a DNA repair gene

A

BRCA (1, 2)

21
Q

What is the difference between a mutation and a polymorphism in cancer genetics?

A

Mutation: any change in a DNA sequence away from normal (implies there is a normal allele that is prevalent in the population), involved in pathogenesis of cancer
Polymorphism: DNA sequence variation common in the population (no single allele is considered standard), influences RISK of cancer

22
Q

What is responsible for the slow progression in low growth fraction tumours?

A

Cell production vs. death occurs at a similar rate

23
Q

Give 3 examples of high growth fraction tumours

A

Leukaemias
Lymphomas
Small-cell carcinoma

24
Q

Give 2 examples of low growth fraction tumours

A

Colon

Breast adenocarcinoma

25
Q

What are oncogenes?

A

Mutant versions of proto-oncogenes that function autonomously without a requirement for normal growth-promoting signals

26
Q

Give 5 examples of common (normal physiological) roles of oncogenes

A 
Growth factors (acting in autocrine manner)
Growth factor receptors
Signal transduction proteins
TFs
Cyclins and CDKs
27
Q

What is loss of heterozygosity (LOH)?

A

Loss of normal function of 1 allele of a gene in which the other allele was already inactivated

28
Q

What is p53 and what is its role?

A

TF which can regulate the expression of cell cycle factors

Involved in apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest, DNA repair, differentiation and senescence

29
Q

What are some of the mechanisms regulating TSG expression?

A

miRNA-mediated control

Epigenetic control

30
Q

What are 6 mechanisms used by neoplasms to evade apoptosis?

A

IMAGE
Reduced CD95 level
Inactivation of death-induced signalling complex by FLICE protein
Upregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2
Reduced levels of pro-apoptotic BAX resulting from loss of p53
Loss of APAF-1
Upregulation of inhibitors of BAX

31
Q

How do tumour cells develop immortality?

A

Via reactivation of telomerase

32
Q

What is the molecular mechanism underlying metastasis?

A

Detachment: via disruption of cellular “glue” (cadherins, beta-catenin, connexins)
Degradation of ECM
Attachment to novel ECM components
Migration of tumour cells

33
Q

What are some popular therapeutic targets for cancer and what is the role of these targets?

A

VEGFs, VEGF receptors

Involved in tumour angiogenesis

34
Q

List 10 characteristics of tumours and the classes of therapeutics used to target them

A

Sustaining proliferative signalling: EGFR inhibitors
Evading growth suppressors: CDK inhibitors
Avoiding immune destruction: immune-activating anti-CTLA4 mAb
Enabling replicative immortality: telomerase inhibitors
Tumour-promoting inflammation: selective anti-inflammatory drugs
Activating invasion and metastasis: inhibitors of HGF/c-Met
Inducing angiogenesis: inhibitors of VEGF signalling
Genome instability and mutation: PARP inhibitors
Resisting cell death: pro-apoptotic BH3 mimetics
Deregulating cellular energetics: aerobic glycolysis inhibitors

35
Q

What causes weight loss and anorexia in cancer?

A

TNF-a, IL-1 produced by tumour cells or cells in the tumour microenvironment

36
Q

What are the 4 important diagnostic/prognostic factors to determine following a diagnosis of malignancy?

A

Specific tumour type and subtype (cell lineage)
Grade
Stage
Presence of lymphovascular invasion

37
Q

What does tumour stage measure?

A

Refers to the progression the malignancy has made in terms of local spread and metastasis

38
Q

What is the most common staging system used?

A

TNM

39
Q

What are the criteria of the TNM staging system?

A

T: extent of primary tumour (T0-T4 indicating size and local extent)
N: regional LN metastases (N0-N3)
M: absence or presence of distant metastases (M0-M1)
X indicates cannot be assessed or unknown
Components are combined to give a stag grouping, usually from I-IV

40
Q

What are some prognostic factors in cancer?

A

Vascular invasion seen in primary tumour

Specific genetic alterations

41
Q

What are the 2 main categories of targeted therapies for cancer?

A

Small molecules that e.g. inhibit GF receptors or TK

Monoclonal antibodies that target specific proteins or receptors

42
Q

When does metaplasia arise?

A

Response to chronic injury (e.g. GORD, chronic gastritis, chronic inflammation, smoking)
Can be physiological (e.g. cervical transformation zone)

Resp Revision (28 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions