Pathology

Question 1

Define cancer

Answer 1

Uncontrolled cell proliferation and growth that can invade other tissues.

Question 2

What is a tumour?

Answer 2

A swelling

Question 3

What are the 3 classifications of tumours?

Answer 3

Benign
Malignant
Inflammatory

Question 4

Define Neoplasms

Answer 4

New growth

Question 5

How is a neoplasm stimulated?

Answer 5

It is never in response to a stimuli

Question 6

Where in the body do you get neoplasms?

Answer 6

All over the body, any cell from any organ

Question 7

What two things are key to knowing if a growth is malignant?

Answer 7

If it has metastatic potential

If it has grown beyond the basement membrane

Question 8

What are the three precursors of cancer?

Answer 8

Dysplasia
Metaplasia
Hyperplasia

Question 9

What is metaplasia?

Answer 9

The reversible change from one mature cell type to another mature cell type

Question 10

What is metaplasia not?

Answer 10

A reversal in the appearance of adult cells

Question 11

How is metaplasia stimulated?

Answer 11

By a change in signals delivered to stem cells, causing them to differentiate down a different line.

Question 12

What three chemicals can stimulate metaplasia?

Answer 12

Cytokines
Growth factors
Other chemicals in the cells microenvironment

Question 13

What normally stimulates metaplasia?

Answer 13

A noxious stimuli

Question 14

Which type of cell is particularly prone to undergoing metaplasia?

Answer 14

Squamous epithelium

Question 15

State three areas of the body which are prone to undergoing metaplasia

Answer 15

Oesophagus
Bronchial
Bladder

Question 16

Why is the oesophagus prone to undergoing metaplasia?

Answer 16

Due to cell damage from acid reflux

Question 17

Why is the bronchial epithelium prone to undergoing metaplasia?

Answer 17

Due to inhalation of toxins such as cigarette smoke

Question 18

Why is the bladder prone to undergoing metaplasia?

Answer 18

Due to something such as a catheter causing inflammation

Question 19

What risk increases when a cell undergoes metaplasia?

Answer 19

The risk of cancer development

Question 20

Define hyperplasia

Answer 20

The enlargement of an organ or tissue caused by an increase in reproduction rate of its cells.

Question 21

What stage of cancer development is hyperplasia?

Answer 21

Initial stage

Question 22

Define dysplasia

Answer 22

Disordered growth

Question 23

Does dysplasia have a stimulus?

Answer 23

No

Question 24

How is dysplasia rated and what does each mean?

Answer 24

Rated from low grade to high grade - low being mostly normal and high being abnormal and closest to becoming cancer

Question 25

What is the basis of cervical screening?

Answer 25

The detection of dysplasia in the cervix before it becomes cancerous

Question 26

What does CIS stand for?

Answer 26

Carcinoma in stiu

Question 27

What does CIS mean?

Answer 27

When dysplasia affects the whole epithelium

Question 28

What type of epithelium does CIS apply to?

Answer 28

Non-glandular epithelium

Question 29

What stage of cancer development is CIS?

Answer 29

Last stage before it becomes invasive

Question 30

State the 8 common causes of cancer

Answer 30

Genes
Smoking
Alcohol
UV Radiation
Other radiation
Drugs
Infection
Obesity

Question 31

What are the steps that cancer cells must go through to become metastatic called?

Answer 31

The Weinberg Hallmarks

Question 32

State the 6 (and an extra) Weinberg Hallmarks

Answer 32

Increase growth signals
Remove growth suppression
Avoid apoptosis
Achieve immortality
Become invasive
Make your own blood supply 
(loss of cellular DNA spell checker)

Question 33

What is the term used to describe the production of your own blood supply?

Answer 33

Angiogensis