Skin cancer Flashcards

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1
Q

List the 8 hallmarks of cancer:

A
  1. sustaining proliferative signalling
  2. evading growth suppressors
  3. activating invasion and metastasis
  4. enabling replicative immortality
  5. inducing angiogenesis
  6. resisting cell death
  7. avoiding immune destruction
  8. deregulating cell energetics
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2
Q

What is an oncogene?

A

an over-active form of a gene that positively regulates cell division

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3
Q

What is a proto-oncogene?

A

The normal, not yet mutated form of an oncogene.

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4
Q

What is a tumour suppressor?

A

inactive or non-functional form of a gene that negatively regulates cell division

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5
Q

What are thy two types of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer?

A

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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6
Q

Why does Xeroderma pigemetosum increase the risk of skin cancer?

A

Genes involved in DNA repair are mutated

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7
Q

Chronic/long term exposure to UV radiation predisposes to ….

A

Squamous cell carcinomea

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8
Q

UV_ radiation penetrates deepest into the skin. It causes direct/indirect DNA damage by ______ guanosine.

A

UVA radiation

indirect damage

oxidising guanosine

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9
Q

UV_ causes direct DNA damage.

A

UVB radiation

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10
Q

What are the UVB-caused DNA lesions?

A

Pyrimidine dimers

Pyrimidine-pyrimidone photo products

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11
Q

How does UVA cause DNA damage?

A

Via oxidation of DNA bases

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12
Q

What is the characteristic UVA-induced mutation? What is the repair mechanism involved?

A

C -> A point mutation

Base excision repair

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13
Q

What is the signature mutation induced by UVB?

What is the repair mechanism?

A

TT -> CC

Nucleotide excision repair

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14
Q

Mutations in c-KIT, B-RAF and MEK, genes involved in the Ras/Raf/MAPK signalling pathways are encountered in what skin cancer?

A

familial Malignant Melanoma

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15
Q

Basal skin carcinoma and Squamous skin carcinoma arise from what cell type?

A

Keratinocytes

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16
Q

What is the ABCDE of melanoma diagnosis?

A
Asymmetry
Border
Colour
Diameter
Evolution
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17
Q

A slow-growing painless lump with central ‘rodent’ ulceration and visible blood vessels are characteristic of what skin cancer

A

Basal Cell Carcinoma

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18
Q

A hyperkeratotic (crusted) lump/ulcer, which grows relatively fast is indicative of what skin cancer?

A

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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19
Q

What are Actinic Keratoses? What cancers do they develop into?

A

Precancerous skin lesions.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma

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20
Q

What is Naevoid basal cell carcinoma (Gorlin’s) syndrome?

A

Autosomal dominant familila cancer syndrome

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21
Q

Mutations in PTCH1, a key component of the Hedgehog signalling pathway (induces cell proliferation genes) are common in what skin cancer?

A

Basal cell carcinoma

22
Q

Melanoblasts migrate to skin from the _____ ____.

A

neural crest

23
Q

Melanocytes are situated in the ____ layer of the epidermis.

A

basal layer

24
Q

What are ephilides?

A

freckles

25
Q

Actinic lentigines are linked to ____ and _____ _____. Also known as ____ ____

A

age
and UV exposure

liver spots

26
Q

Blue naevi and halo naevi are malignant (T/F)

A

False

27
Q

What is the progression of growth of acquired naevi throughout life?

A
  1. junctional naevi - in childhood
  2. Adolescence - compound naevi (clusters at DEJ and in dermis)
  3. Adulthood -
    Intradermal naevi
28
Q

Spitz naevi are usually benign (T/F)

A

true

29
Q

What are the 4 main types of Malignant melanoma?

A
  1. Superficial spreading
  2. Acral/mucosal lentiginous
  3. Lentigo maligna
  4. Nodular
30
Q

What is the characteristic feature of Nodular melanoma?

A

Rapid progression into the vertical growth phase

-there is no initial containment to the epidermis

31
Q

What is the main indicator of melanoma prognosis?

A

Breslow depth - vertical depth of the tumour

pTis (in situ) to pT4

32
Q

What are the novel drug treatments of malignant melanoma metastases?

A

B-RAF and MEK inhibitors.

33
Q

Seborrhoeic keratosis is a benign proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes (T/F)

A

True

34
Q

The appearance of seborrhoeic keratosis is often described as ___ __

A

stuck on

35
Q

The risk of metastasis of Basal Cell Carcinomas is low/high.

A

Low

- almost never metastasises

36
Q

Telangiectatic vessels are characteristic of what slow-growing tumour?

A

nodular Basal cell carcinoma

37
Q

What are the precursor lesions of Squamous Cell Carcinoma? (3)

A
  1. Bowen’s disease
  2. Actinic keratosis
  3. Viral lesions
38
Q

What is Bowen’s disease? What’s it morphology?

A

In-situ displasia of keratinocytes.

It forms a scaly plaque with irregular borders.

39
Q

Where are Bowen’s disease lesions usually found?

A

Legs

40
Q

Where are Actinic keratoses usually found?

A

Sun-exposed areas, such as scalp, face, hands.

41
Q

What pathogen is commonly associated with penile dysplasia?

A

HPV

42
Q

Merkel cell (primary small cell neuroendorcine) carcinoma tends to have good prognosis. (T/F)

A

False

-very aggressive

43
Q

If to widespread for surgery, ______ can be used to treat BCC

A

phototherapy

44
Q

Corticosteroids have an adverse effect on skin healing (T/F)

A

True

45
Q

What are the 5 layers of the scalp?

A
Skin
connective tissue
aponeurosis
loose connective tissue
periosteum
46
Q

What is the most commonly used anaesthetic used in surgery? What is it used with?

A

Lignocaine

With Adrenaline

47
Q

What does adrenaline do in terms of anaesthesia?

A

Prolongs anaesthesia and reduces bleeding

-do not use in digits

48
Q

Treatment for Malignant Melanoma?

A

Excision biopy

49
Q

Define stages of skin cancer in terms of Breslow thickness.

A
Stage Tsi - melanoma in situ
Stage T1 - <1mm thick
Stage T2 - 1-2mm
Stage T3 - 2-4mm
Stage T4 - >4mm
50
Q

How is sentinel node biopsy performed?

A
  1. Dye is injected at the site of the melanoma
  2. Biopsy is performed to verify which lymph nodes the dye moves to from the tumour
  3. Lymph nodes can then be excised