Neoplasm

Question 1

Characteristic of Benign
Differentiation:
(similarity to source tissue)
Rate of growth:
Local invasion:
Metastasis:

Answer 1

Well differentiated (similar to tissue structure, well organised)
Slow growth
No invasion
Absent

Question 2

Characteristic of Malignant 
Differentiation:
(similarity to source tissue)
Rate of growth:
Local invasion:
Metastasis:

Answer 2

Undifferentiated (disorganised + not similar to usual tissue structure)
Rapid
Invasive with poorly defined margin
Common

Question 3

Neoplasia definition and the 2 classifications

Answer 3

New abnormal growth that exceeds normal tissues.

Benign + malignant

Question 4

What do neoplasms (tumours) arise from

Answer 4

accumulation of genetic alterations (mutations, deletions, translocations + epigenetic changes)

Question 5

What do the genetic alteration changes result in to form a neoplasm

Answer 5

neoplastic (abnormal) cell growth

forming a mass of tumour cells

Question 6

What direction of growth is malignant and is cell death is common

Answer 6

endophytic

necrosis - common

Question 7

Clinical problems of malignant tumours

Answer 7

pressure/destruction of adjacent tissues
formation of secondary tumours (metastases)
obstruction of BF flow
production of hormone

Question 8

What type of growth is benign tumour and is cell death common?

Answer 8

Exophytic - tumour grows away from surface

Necrosis is rare

Question 9

Clinical problems that can arise in benign tumours

Answer 9

can lead to malignant tumour
Pressure of adjacent tissues
Obstruction of BF
Production of hormone

Question 10

What is the tumour “stroma”

Answer 10

Greek = mattress
supported connective tissue which neoplastic cells are embedded in.
provides mechanical support, intracellular signalling + nutrition to neoplastic cells

Question 11

What is an Oncogene

Answer 11

Genes driving neoplastic behaviour cells

Activation of this gene leads to hallmarks of cancer

Question 12

What is a Tumour suppressor gene

Answer 12

Slows down cell division, repairs DNA or plans a role in ‘apoptosis’ (programmed cell death)
Inactivation of this gene leads to hallmarks of cancer

Question 13

Name the 2 Tumour suppressor genes and their role

Answer 13

Caretaker - repair DNA damage

Gatekeeper - promote death of cells with damaged DNA (apoptosis)

Question 14

Hallmarks of cancer list 8

Answer 14

Self-sufficiency in growth signals
Insensitivity to growth-inhibitory signals
Altered cellular metabolism
Evasion of apoptosis
Limitless replicative potential (immortality)
Sustained angiogenesis 
Invasion + metastasis 
Evasion of immune survelliance

Question 15

What is the ‘Knudson Two-hit Hypotheses’?

Answer 15

Hypothesis that most suppressor genes require both alleles to be inactivated.
Normal cells have 2 undamaged chromosomes 1 inherited from the mother and other from the father.
People with hereditary susceptibility to cancer inherit a damaged gene on one chromosome that is the first ‘hit’. If cell receives damage to the same gene on 2nd chromosome that is the second ‘hit’ and that cell can produce cancer

Question 16

What is the process ‘carcinogenesis’

Answer 16

Formation of normal cells into neoplastic cells (cancer cells)
Capable of autonomous growth + in malignant neoplasms invasion + metastasis

Question 17

What are the two processes in carcinogenesis

Answer 17

Initiation - where a carcinogen induces genetic alteration which gives transformed cell neoplastic potential
Propagation -
Promotion = stimulation of clonal proliferation of transformed cell
Progression = process into malignant behaviour by invasion

Question 18

What is ‘targeted therapy’ in cancer treatment

Answer 18

Type of treatment that targets proteins to control how cancer cells grow, divide + spread

Question 19

What is cancer immunotherapy?

Answer 19

Helps immune system fight cancer, boosting the natural defences of your immune system to attack neoplastic cells