Tumour Pathology 2

Question 1

What are the altered genetics associated with cancer?

Answer 1

Loss of tumour suppressor genes
Gain of function of oncogenes

Question 2

What is the behaviour of cancer cells?

Answer 2

Unregulated growth
Loss of cohesion
Immaturity
Immortality

Question 3

What are the properties of cancer

Answer 3

Mutate
Enable replicative mortality
Evade growth suppressors
Resist cell death
Mediate tumour associated inflammatory response
Avoid immune destruction
Invade and metastasize
Induce angiogenesis
Deregulate cellular genetics
Sustain proliferative signalling

MERMAID SEI
MEERMAIIDS
ARAMARD PEMI

Question 4

Describe adhesion in cancer cells

Answer 4

Loss of cell-to-cell adhesion
Altered cell-to-matrix adhesion

Question 5

What are the tumour biomarkers?

Answer 5

Tumour-related proteins

Question 6

What are the different categories of tumour biomarkers?

Answer 6

Onco-fetal proteins
Oncogenes
Growth factors and receptors

Question 7

What is the clinical utility of tumour biomarkers?

Answer 7

Screening
Diagnosis
Prognostic - identifying patients with a specific outcome
Predictive - identifying patients who will respond to a particular therapy

Question 8

What is Pleomorphism

Answer 8

the variation in size and shape of cancer cells referred to as?

Question 9

Is mitosis present in cancer cells?

Answer 9

Yes but is abnormal

Question 10

What is tumour growth a balance between?

Answer 10

Angiogenesis
Apoptosis

Question 11

What is angiogenesis?

Answer 11

New blood vessel formation by tumours, required to sustain tumour growth

Question 12

What is the downside on human health brought about by angiogenesis?

Answer 12

Provides a route for release of tumour cells into circulation

Question 13

What is the relationship between blood vessels and prognosis?

Answer 13

More blood vessels -poorer prognosis

Question 14

What is involved in the response to chemo-radiotherapy?

Answer 14

Apoptosis

Question 15

What is the major clinical problem of cancer?

Answer 15

Formation of metastatic (secondary) tumour

Question 16

What is the effect of metastasis on matrix degradation by proteolytic enzymes?

Answer 16

Increased

Question 17

What is the effect of metastasis on cell-to-cell cell-to-matrix adhesion?

Answer 17

It is altered

Question 18

What are the various modes of spread of cancer?

Answer 18

Local
Lymphatic
Blood (haematogenous spread)
Trans-coelomic spread

Question 19

What is the intermediate tissue for tumour invasion of lymph/blood vessels?

Answer 19

Connective tissue

Question 20

What are the stages of metastasis via lymphatics?

Answer 20

Invade connective tissue
Enter lymphatic system
Travel through lymphatic system
Exit lymphatic system
Enter and grows in lymph node

Question 21

What is Trans-coelomic spread?

Answer 21

Spread of tumour cells across the body cavities

Pleural or peritoneal cavities

Question 22

Which organs show a Trans-coelomic spread?

Answer 22

Lung, stomach, colon and ovary

Question 23

What are the common sites of metastasis?

Answer 23

Liver, lung, brain, bone (axial skeleton)
Adrenal gland, peritoneum

Question 24

What are the uncommon sites for metastasis?

Answer 24

Spleen, kidney, skeletal muscles, heart

Relates to blood flow and the environmental factors of each organ

Question 25

Where do breast? prostate? and colorectal cancer often metastasis to?

Answer 25

Bone
Bone
Liver