PNP WK4

Question 1

What are neoplastic cells?

Answer 1

• A defective set of genes in a cell that replicate uncontrolled and will eventually form lumps/tumours
• Cells become extra invasive (cancerous) and break off from original tumour and spreads throughout body (matastasis)

Question 2

What are the steps of mitosis (cell division)?

Answer 2

-Prophase: DNA organizes into chromosomes
-Metaphase: Chromosomes align
-Anaphase: Chromosomes separate
-Telophase: nuclear membranes appear around chromosome sets
-Cytokinesis: Cell is created
-Interphase: G1, S and G2 stages

Question 3

What are the characteristics of a benign tumour?

Answer 3

Similar to local cells, relatively slow, remains localised

Question 4

What are the characteristics of a malignant tumour?

Answer 4

Irregular shape, size, not like local tissue, fast growing, invades nearby tissue, fatal

Question 5

What are the stages of carcinogenesis?

Answer 5

1) Protooncogene becomes mutated, tells cell cycle gene to produce DNA
2) Mutation in inhibitory gene, doesn’t stop constant replication
3) DNA regulator/fixer is switched off and cannot fix DNA
4) Mutated apoptosis gene so cell cannot die to save body
5) Telemerase mutated so telemeres (end of chromosomes) are protected so cell can replicate
6) Growth factors go to blood vessels and give cancer cells to nutrients
7) Cell is different to neighbouring cells and metastasizes
8) NOT RECONGISED AS ISSUE BY IMMUNE SYSTEM

Question 6

What are the features of bowel cancer?

Answer 6

Tumour grows along side of colon wall and causes bowel obstructions

Question 7

What are the features of lung cancer?

Answer 7

Are divided into small cell and non-small cell cancers
Carcinomas of the lung occur as a result of abnormal cells in the bronchi, bronchioles and/or alveoli

Question 8

What are the features of skin cancer?

Answer 8

Divided into non-melanoma (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) and melanoma
Mutation of the basal stem cell or melanocytes

Question 9

What are the basic mechanisms of tumour spread?

Answer 9

Invading: tumour’s ability to grow into adjacent tissue, destroys local cells and invades other structures
Metastasis: spreads to distant sites by blood or lymph, broken local tissue erodes into blood/lymph nodes to find suitable environment to continue replicating
Seeding: spread of tumour cells in body cavity fluid and membranes

Question 10

What are the stages of cancer?

Answer 10

Stage 1: confined to origin tissue
Stage 2: locally invasive
Stage 3: spreads to regional structures (lymphs)
Stage 4: metastasizes to different sites

Question 11

What are the lab tests used for cancer?

Answer 11

Blood tests, Tumour markers, Genetic testing, CT MRI PET-scan X-Ray, Biopsy

Question 12

What is the action of chemotherapeutic agent ?

Answer 12

Affects cancer cells and normal cells systemically
Split into cell cycle phase-specific (cells in particular stage of cycle) and cell cycle phase non-specific

Question 13

What is localised chemo?

Answer 13

• Radiotherapy targets 1 specific location
• Surgery

Question 14

What is cytotoxic chemo?

Answer 14

• is toxic to both diseased and healthy cells
  E.G: antimetabolities (targets cells during S-phase) METHOTREXATE
  E.G: antitumour antibiotics (target G2 phase) BLEOMYCIN
  E.G: Vinca alkaloids, plant based (target M phase)
  E.G: Alkylating agents, non-specific CISPLATIN

Question 15

What is a Fibroadenoma?

Answer 15

Growth of stroma or epi. cells in breast originating from the lobule, resemble normal cells and are no larger than 2cm

Question 16

What is a fibrocystic disease?

Answer 16

The lobules form cysts due to isolation undergoing involution, fluid filled

Question 17

What are the common breast cancers?

Answer 17

Ductal carcinomas (arising from collecting ducts) and lobular carcinomas (arising from terminal lobules)

Question 18

What is the origin of cervical cancer?

Answer 18

Dysplasia (mild), which occurs at the junction of columnar cells with squamous cells

Question 19

What is the anatomy of the prostate?

Answer 19

• muscular gland inferior to urinary bladder and is made of glandular and connective tissue (stroma)
• secretes solution high in citrate and PSA

Question 20

What are the 4 distinct zones of the prostate?

Answer 20

1. transitional zone, innermost and contains ejact. ducts and urethra
2. Central zone, below prox. urethra
3. Peripheral zone, surrounds the central zone and is 70% of prostate mass
4. Anterior fibromuscular zone, only made of muscle and fibrous tissue

Question 21

What is the pathophysiology of a benign prostate hyperplasia?

Answer 21

Hyperplasia of both glandular and stromal tissue components causing bladder obstruction, related to elevated androgen levels

Question 22

What is the pathophysiology of prostate cancer?

Answer 22

• Adenocarcinomas arising from glandular tissue in peripheral zone, remaining cancer cells generally originate from the neuroendocrine stem cells in central zone
• Spreads along the capsular surface of the gland

Question 23

What is the pathophysiology of testicular cancer?

Answer 23

• Carcinoma growth beyond the basement membrane