Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

Pathophys > Neoplasia > Flashcards

Neoplasia Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three types of cells? What are their functions and give examples

A

Permanent cells: unable to divide or reproduce; neurons and cardiac cells
Labile: constant state of renewal (can go into G0 if needed); GI or hematopoietic system
Stable cells: can grow but do it more slowly & mostly when tissue is injured or lost

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

What is cell differentiation?

A

proliferating cells are transformed into different and more specialized cell types; each specialization step the cell takes, the less ability it has to develop different cell characteristics and cell lines

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

What are progenitor cells?

A

parent cells; cells of the same lineage that are able to differentiate providing large numbers of replacement cells

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

What is a stem cell? What are the two types?

A

remain incompletely differentiated throughout life

1) . Pluripotent: embryos contains these; able to give rise to every tissue in the body
2) . Adult: reservoirs of stem cells in fully grown tissue; lineage specific

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

What does it mean if a cell is poorly differentiated?

A

cells look like something else than what the cell was supposed to differentiate into

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

Where are the two checkpoints controlling cell division located in the cell cycle?

A

G1- post-mitotic phase (DNA at rest)

G2- pre-mitotic phase (volume of cell has doubled)

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

What do growth factors in cancer cells destroy (in terms of the cell cycle)?

A

They destroy the gap phases so cell keeps proliferating without checkpoints

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

What are 4 functions of cell proliferation?

A

Replace skin cells, replace blood cells, increasing cells during periods of growth, and tissue repair/wound healing

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

What three proteins control the cell cycle?

A

Cyclin, cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs), and their inhibitors (cyclins and CDKs are found in every stage of the cell cycle)

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

What is the function of CDKs in the cell cycle?

A

they are enzymes that phosphorylate target proteins (on/off switch)

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

What is the function of inhibitors of the cyclin-CDK complexes (in terms of the cell cycle)?

A

They function as tumor suppressors; checks and balances system for cancer

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

What is cell proliferation?

A

the process of cell growth and differentiation (bad when it is uncontrolled)

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

What are characteristics of a benign neoplasm? Are the cells poorly or well differentiated? What tissue do their cells resemble? How fast/slow do they grow? Are they encapsulated?

A

well-differentiated cells; cells resemble tissue of origin; slow, progressive growth; may stop or regress; Usually does not cause death unless the location or size interferes with vital functions; not invasive; usually encapsulated (don’t extend past basement membrane); lost ability to suppress proliferation but not differentiation

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

What characteristics of a malignant neoplasm? Are the cells poorly or well differentiated? What tissue do their cells resemble? How fast/slow do they grow? Are they encapsulated?

A

Have lost the ability to control cell proliferation and differentiation; invade and destroy surrounding tissue; metastasize; poorly differentiated (mildly PD is better than severely PD); the more rapid the growth the more differentiated ; can compress BVs and outgrow their own blood supply; can be solid tumor or hematologic (arise from bone marrow/lymph)

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

What is anaplastic cancer?

A

cancer cells that look nothing like cells of origin; new cells look like cancer cells

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

What are the two tissue types that make up benign and malignant tumors? Define them both

A

1) . Parenchymal: cells that represent functional components of an organ (determine behavior of the tumor)
2) . Supporting tissue: connective tissue; blood vessels and lymph structure

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

What is a carcinoma vs sarcoma vs cancer in situ?

A

carcinoma- malignant tumors of epithelial cell origin
sarcoma- malignant tumor of mesenchymal (bone marrow) cell origin
cancer in situ- localized pre-invasive tumor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What three things does the rate of growth of a neoplasm (normal or malignant tissue) depend on?

A

1) . number of cells actively dividing and moving through cell cycle (cancer has more cells doong this)
2) . duration of the cell cycle (faster the cycle, faster the cells will grow; cancer & normal cells don’t have much of a difference here)
3) . Number of cells lost vs the number of cells produced (NOT a lot of cancer cells are lost, which makes the difference in malignancy)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is growth fraction in terms of a malignant neoplasm?

A

it is the ratio of dividing cells to resting cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Explain a cancer’s growth fraction. Explain lymphoma/leukemia vs colon/lung cancer growth fractions

A

when someone has cancer, there are more cells in the active cycling phase so cells are dividing/gorwing faster
colon/lung- have low growth fraction, resemble more like normal cell growth; respond to chemo less
Lymphoma/leukemia- respond to chemo better

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is doubling time in terms of a malignant neoplasm?

A

The time it takes for the total mass of cells in a tumor to double (higher the growth fraction in cancer cells, the less the doubling time bc limited by resources)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Describe a malignant tumor’s growth curve? Explain how a malignant tumor’s doubling time affects detection

A

It has a steep growth curve but then flattens out when supply is outstripped by growth
Tumor is undetectable until it has doubled 30 times and contains about 1 billion cells (after 35 doublings, it has about 1 trillion cells and death can occur)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Why is cancer considered “crab-like”? What three cavities can it invade?

A

its difficult to remove bc of its tendrils invading tissue (benign is well circumscribed and surrounded by a capsule); can invade peritoneal, pleural, & pericardial spaces; metastatic tumor retains some characteristics of tissue from which it was derived

24
Q

What two forms of spreading can occurring in a malignant neoplasm?

A

Lymphatic system (lymphatic spread) OR Blood (hematologic spread)

25
Q

Which form of malignancy spreading do carcinomas follow? How about sarcoma? Osteosarcoma?

A

Carcinoma- lymphatic system
Sarcoma- blood, capillaries, and venules
Osteosarcoma- malignancy of bone

26
Q

Define metastasis

A

development of a secondary tumor in a location distant from the primary tumor

27
Q

What 7 things must a neoplasm do to successfully metastasize?

A

1) . break loose from primary tumor
2) . invade surrounding ECM
3) . gain access to a BV
4) . survive its passage in the bloodstream
5) . emerge in a favorable location
6) . invade the surrounding tissue
7) . Begin to grow- creating a blood supply (angiogenesis)

28
Q

Describe how lymphatic spread of metastasis works? What is a sentinel lymph node?

A

Spreading in this manner means the tumor cells lodge first in the initial lymph node that receives drainage from that site
Sentinel lymph node is the 1st lymph node to which a primary tumor drains

29
Q

Explain how a sentinel node biopsy works

A

Inject a radioactive tracer and blue dye into the tumor to determine which is the sentinel node; looking at the sentinel node, you determine if cancer cells are present or absent. If blue dye travels to lymphatic system, then tumor has traveled (Breast cancer/melanoma)

30
Q

Describe how hematologic spread of metastasis works?

A

It enters into venous system via capillaries and venues (GI, pancreas, spleen, drain venous blow to liver first SO LIVER COMMON SITE FOR METASTASIS); liver is optimal because it is very fertile and vascular organ which supplies the tumor with the right growth factors

31
Q

What do cancer cells HAVE to do once reaching a new site in order to keep growing?

A

Establish a blood supply (angiogenesis)

32
Q

What is oncogenesis?

A

The genetic mechanism whereby the normal cell is transformed into a cancerous one

33
Q

What are oncogenes?

A

genes that encode proteins that promote the loss of growth control & conversion of cell to malignant state

34
Q

What are four types of genes that control growth and replication?

A
  • *1). Proto-oncogenes: genes that become oncogenes (VARY person to person)
  • *2). Tumor suppressor genes- genes that protect normal cells from activated oncogenes
    3) . Genes that program apoptosis
    4) . Genes that regulate repair of damages DNA
    • cancer requires activation of MANY mutated genes
35
Q

What are 6 types of proteins encoded by proto-oncogenes?

A

1) . Growth factors
2) . Growth factors receptors
3) . Protein kinases & proteins that activate them
4) . Proteins that regulate cell cycle
5) . Proteins that activate or inhibit apoptosis
6) . DNA binding proteins
* *become oncogenes if mutated

36
Q

What are three ways proto-oncogenes can become oncogenes?

A

1) . Mutation of gene itself
2) . Mutation in nearby regulatory sequence which alters gene expression
3) . Chromosome rearrangement which alters gene expression (dominant trait; only need one copy for damage to be done)

37
Q

What are tumor suppressor genes? Are they dominant or recessive genes?

A

act as cell brakes; they encode proteins that restrain cell growth & prevent cells from becoming malignant
– becomes problems when these genes are INACTIVATED
They are typically recessive, which means cells are normal until both genes are deleted/mutated

38
Q

Why is p53 significant?

A

it is one of the genes that is a tumor suppressor and also sends damaged cells on to apoptosis

39
Q

What are the three stages of how a carcinogenic agent causes normal cells to turn cancerous?

A

1) . Initiation: exposure of cells to a carcinogenic substance that makes them more susceptible (ex: smoking, drugs)
2) . Promotion: induction of unregulated growth in an initiated cell (can be long latency period, years)
* *CAN REVERSE IF STIMULUS IS REMOVED
3) . Progression: when tumor cells acquire malignant properties

40
Q

What are 4 host factors linked to cancer?

A

Hereditary, hormones (estrogen), obesity (insulin), immunologic mechanisms

41
Q

What are 3 environmental factors linked to cancer?

A

Chemical carcinogens, radiation(ionizing), and oncogenic viruses

42
Q

Explain mendelian inheritance patterns for breast cancer

A

10% risk with 1 first degree relative
15% risk with 2 affected family members
30% risk with 3 affected family members
50% risk in women >65 yrs with multiple family members with BC BRCA-1 and BRCA-2

43
Q

Explain autosomal dominant inheritance pattern in retinoblastoma

A

People are born with ONE mutant allele of tumor suppressor gene; for disease to occur, normal allele must also mutate
40% of retinoblastomas are inherited; carriers of this gene have 10,000 fold risk in developing it, usually bilaterally (sign of white eye during exam)

44
Q

Explain how endometriosis could occur through excess estrogen exposure

A

Constant estrogen influx can actively drive a cancer cell to divide (why we alternate estrogen & progesterone)

45
Q

What are direct vs indirect carcinogens?

A

Direct- reacting agents that require activation in body to become carcinogenic (ex: smoking)
Indirect- reacting agents, procarcinogens, which become active ONLY after metabolic conversion (ex: hydrocarbons/aromatic rings)

46
Q

How do carcinogens cause cancer?

A

They form highly reactive species that bind with DNA< RNA, and cellular proteins

47
Q

When someone is exposed to radiation, what factors have influence on the type of cancer that person might develop?

A

Type of radiation, age of person, sex of person, dose dependent, latency period changes

48
Q

What are 4 examples of cancerous viruses

A

HPV, EBV, Hep B virus, Human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1)

49
Q

What are 5 generalized symptoms of cancer? What happens to tissue integrity when someone has cancer?

A

Malaise, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, anemia

Tumors invade so tissue compresses and erodes BVs causing necrosis/bleeding

50
Q

What is cancer anorexia?

A

“cachexia syndrome”

weight loss and wasting of body fat/muscle tissue; profound weakness anorexia & anemia

51
Q

What is paraneoplastic syndrome? What are three main groupings for this syndrome?

A

Cancer can produce manifestations in sites that are not directly affected by the disease

1) . Hormones- cause endocrine disturbances (ADH, ACTH, PTH)
2) . Hematopoietic: increase in clotting, thrombolytic endocarditis (usually first indicator)
3) . Neurologic: myasthenic syndrome caused by small cell lung cancer

52
Q

How often should a woman get a pap smear?

A

start at age 21 and every 3 years if normal

53
Q

What age should people start having screening rectal, prostate exams, and colonoscopies? How about mammograms

A

50 yrs old

40 for mammogram

54
Q

What type of cancer should you do a bone marrow aspiration to diagnose?

A

Leukemia

55
Q

What is grading of a cancer?

A

histologic or cellular characteristics of a tumor (level of differentiation and number of mitoses)
**Obtained by biopsy & observed under microscope

56
Q

What is staging of a cancer?

A

method to determine extent and spread of a disease (TNM system)
0- no evidence
x- not assessed
1-4 varying degree of severity (4 is more severe)

57
Q

What are some treatment options for cancer?

A

Surgery, radiation, chemo, hormone & antihormone therapy, immunotherapy, biologic response modifiers (interferons, interleukins), targeted therapy (bevacizumab injection)
**could be combo

Pathophys (13 decks)

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