What is Cancer? -- Quiz 1

Question 1

What two properties are cancer cells defined by?

Answer 1

• Unregulated cell proliferation
• Invasion of other sites in the body

Question 2

Tumor Definition

Answer 2

• An abnormal growth of cells that proliferate out of control Gove rise to a tumor

Question 3

What two things can tumors be?

Answer 3

• Benign
• Malignant

Question 4

Benign definition

Answer 4

does not invade surrounding tissues or metastasize

Question 5

Malignant definition

Answer 5

capable of invading surrounding tissue and of metastasizing to secondary locations

Question 6

What two things could either b benign to malignant?

Answer 6

• Neoplasm
• Neoplastic

Question 7

What are some examples of tissue changes that are not cancer but are monitored because they could become cancerous?

Answer 7

• Carcinoma in situ
• Hyperplasia
• Dysplasia

Question 8

What is a true cancer?

Answer 8

A tumor is considered a true cancer only if it is malignant.

Question 9

What is Invasion?

Answer 9

The spread of tumor cells into surrounding tissue

Question 10

What is Metastasis?

Answer 10

The process of cancer cells spreading from a primary site to secondary sites in the body.

Question 11

What does cancer result from?

Answer 11

Cancer from the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in DNA

Question 12

What are “cancer causing genes”?

Answer 12

Mutant alleles of genes that are required by cells for normal processes such as development and wound healing.

Question 13

How do mutant alleles come about?

Answer 13

They are usually acquired by mutations caused by replication error and exposure to carcinogens

Question 14

What causes genetic change?

Answer 14

• Heredity
• UV Radiation
• Chemicals
• Viruses
• Smoking
• Cells Dividing

Question 15

What is a carcinogen?

Answer 15

a substance or agent that causes cancer

Question 16

What is Carcinogenesis?

Answer 16

a multistep process that usually occurs over time as we accumulate mutations.

Question 17

What is the biggest risk factor in cancer?

Answer 17

Aging

Question 18

What are Driver Mutations?

Answer 18

• Mutations that have a causative role in tumor formation. (Drivers of cancer)
• Creates an allele of a gene that is advantageous for the cell that contains it.
• Results in clonal expansion of mutant alleles

Question 19

What are Passenger Mutations?

Answer 19

• Mutations that occur in the same cell as the driver mutation but are not relevant to the tumor’s formation
• Occur due to genetic instability
• They do not confer a selective advantage

Question 20

Clonal origin of cancer

Answer 20

• cancer arises from a single cell proliferation and invasion

Question 21

Tumor Heterogeneity

Answer 21

Heterogenous due to high mutation rate, clonal diversification & microevolution