Vocab Week 11

Question 1

BRCA2

Answer 1

Breast cancer 2, early onset

Provides instructions for making a tumor suppressor protein

Question 2

Comprehensive Bracanalysis

Answer 2

Test by Myriad genetics

Looks for 5 common large rearrangements in the BRCA1 gene

Question 3

Multisite testing

Answer 3

Testing for multiple mutations that occur in the general population

Question 4

Single site testing

Answer 4

Testing for a known familial mutation

Question 5

Multi gene panel testing for cancers

Answer 5

Tests a number of genes all at once

Always for cause of cancer in a family to be determined more quickly

Question 6

OncotypeDx

Answer 6

Breast cancer assay that can help physicians and patients decide on the best course of treatment
Can predict chemotherapy benefit and BrCA recurrence

Question 7

Mastectomy

Answer 7

Surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely
Usually performed to treat breast cancer

Question 8

Lumpectomy

Answer 8

Surgical removal of a discrete portion or ‘lump’ of breast

Usually involved in the treatment of a malignant tumor or breast cancer

Question 9

Clean or negative margins

Answer 9

Margins refer to the distance between a tumor and the edge of the surrounding tissue thats removed along with it
Negative: no cancer cells are found in the ink

Question 10

TNM staging for breast carcinomas

Answer 10

Looks at how big the cancer is and whether it has spread
Takes into account the size of the tumour (T), whether the cancer has spread the the lymph nodes (N), and whether the tumour has spread anywhere else in the body (M)

Question 11

Metastasis

Answer 11

The spread if a cancer or other disease from one organ or part to another not directly connected with it

Question 12

Invasive Breast Cancer

Answer 12

Breast cancer that starts in the breast ducts or glands but grows into the breast tissue
It can then spread into the nearby lymph nodes and beyond

Question 13

TAH-BSO

Answer 13

Total Abdominal Hysterectomy: removal of uterus and cervix

Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy: removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries

Question 14

CBE

Answer 14

Clinical Breast Exam: feeling for lumps or changes in the breast

Question 15

HRT

Answer 15

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Administer progesterone and estrogen after menopause

Question 16

SERM

Answer 16

Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators

Structurally different compounds that interact with intracellular estrogen receptors in target organs

Question 17

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)

Answer 17

A drug that blocks the actions if estrogen and is used to prevent some types of breast cancer

Question 18

Raloxifene (Evista)

Answer 18

A drug that affects the cycle of bone formation and breakdown in the body and reduces the loss of bone tissue
Used to treat or prevent osteoporosis
Used to reduce the risk of invasive BrCA in post-menopausal women

Question 19

Aromatase Inhibitors

Answer 19

Drugs that lower estrogen levels by stopping aromatase from changing other hormones into estrogen
Used to treat breast and ovarian cancer

Question 20

Estrogen Receptors

Answer 20

A group of proteins found inside cells

They are activated by estrogen

Question 21

Progesterone Receptor

Answer 21

A group of proteins found inside cells and are activated by the hormone progesterone

Question 22

Her2neu

Answer 22

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
Proto oncogene located on 17q
Target for therapy in approx. 30% or breast cancers

Question 23

Herceptin

Answer 23

Effective treatment both before and after surgery for people with her2-positive breast cancer
Attaches to HER2 receptors and blocks growth signals

Question 24

Chemotherapy (CTX)

Answer 24

A category of cancer treatment that uses chemical substances (especially one or more anti-cancer drugs) to kill cancer cells

Question 25

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Answer 25

Treatment given before primary therapy

May receive for breast cancer to shrink a tumor that is inoperable in its current state, so it can be surgically removed

Question 26

Radiation Therapy

Answer 26

Uses ionizing radiation, generally as a part of cancer treatment, to control or kill malignant cells

Question 27

DCIS

Answer 27

Ductal carcinoma in situ
The presence if abnormal cells inside a milk duct in the breast
Considered the earliest form of breast cancer

Question 28

LCIS

Answer 28

Lobular carcinoma in situ
An area of abnormal cell growth (in the milk producing glands) that increases a persons risk of developing invasive breast cancer later on in life

Question 29

BRCA1

Answer 29

Breast cancer 1, early onset

Provides instructions for tumor suppressor protein