tumour pathology

Question 1

describe classification and nomenclature

Answer 1

classified according to tissue in which they develop

Question 2

list differences between benign and malignant

Answer 2

benign
do not metastasis
not cancerous
distinct, smooth regular borders
can become large but will not invade or spread 

malignant -
metastasis - grows faster
cancerous
irregular borders

Question 3

define properties of cancer cells

Answer 3

grow and divide at abnormally rapid rate
poorly differentiated
abnormal membranes
cytoskeletal proteins
morphology 
metastasis 
sustained angiogenesis 
evasion of apoptosis

Question 4

define spread of cancer and its mechanisms

Answer 4

circulatory system
lymphatic system
through body wall into abdominal and chest

Question 5

list local effects of cancer

Answer 5

pressure
obstruction
tissue destruction (by ulceration/infection)
bleeding (haemorrhaging/anaemia)
pain (pressure on nearby nerves)

Question 6

list systemic effects of cancer

Answer 6

normal or abnormal secretions of hormones, cachexia (weight loss), paraneoplastic syndromes, effects of treatment

Question 7

identify concepts of dysplasia

Answer 7

presence of abnormal cells within tissue/organ

Question 8

identify concepts of intra-epithelial neoplasia

Answer 8

abnormal cells found on surface of organ/tissue

Question 9

process of cell division

Answer 9

mitosis and meiosis

mitosis = fundamental process for life

Question 10

phases of cell cycle

Answer 10

G1
S
G2
M

Question 11

checkpoints in cell cycle

Answer 11

surveillance that monitor order integrity and fidelity of major events of cell cycle

include
growth to appropriate cell size
replication and integrity of chromosomes
accurate segregation at mitosis

G1/S checkpoint
intra-S
G2/M

Question 12

understand key molecules in cell cycle

Answer 12

cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks)

responsible for promoting cell cycle

Question 13

describe how aetiological agents cause abnormalities in regulators of cell cycle

Answer 13

cells can divide without order and accumulate genetic errors

Question 14

identify that tumour formation is a multi-step process

Answer 14

carcinogenesis = multistep

new, parasitic and polymorphic cancer cells evolve from a single, normal diploid cell

Question 15

explain importance of genetic changes in cancer

Answer 15

certain gene changes can cause cells to evade normal growth controls and become cancer

some cancer causing gene changes increase production of a protein that makes cells grow

Question 16

retinoblastoma protein

Answer 16

tumour suppressor gene that blocks cell cycle progression from G1 - S phase by inhibiting E2F transcription factors when unphosphorylated
on phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinases, RB1 is targeted for degradation and the E2F transcription factors are allowed to be active

Question 17

tumour suppressor genes

Answer 17

normal genes that slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes or tell cells when to die (apoptosis)

Question 18

examples of tumour suppressor genes

Answer 18

retinoblastoma gene - RB1

BRCA1/BRCA2 - breast cancer genes - mutation in one of these increased risk of developing breast cancer

Question 19

oncogenes

Answer 19

mutated gene that contributes to development of cancer

Question 20

what are oncogenes called in their normal, unmutated state

Answer 20

proto-oncogenes and they play roles in regulation of cell division

Question 21

examples of oncogenes

Answer 21

EGFR receptor of epidermal growth factor (EGF) involved in growth factor-mediated signalling
KDR receptor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) involved in angiogenesis