Tumours 2

Question 1

What are the 4 main properties of cancer cells?

Answer 1

1. altered genetics (loss of tumour suppressors, gain of oncogenes)
2. altered cellular functions (tumour related proteins)
3. abnormal morphology
4. cells capable of independent growth

Question 2

what are 3 main tumour biomarkers?

Answer 2

1. onco-foetal genes
2. oncogenes
3. growth factors and receptors

Question 3

What is the clinical utility of tumour biomarkers? (4)

Answer 3

1. screening (asymptomatic patients)
2. diagnosis (symptomatic patients)
3. prognosis (identifying outcome)
4. predictive (identifying patients who will respond to therapy)

Question 4

What does the tumour biomarker, alpha fetoprotien, detect?

Answer 4

• teratoma of the testis

- hepatocellular carcinoma

Question 5

What does the tumour biomarker, carcino-ambryonic antigen (CEA) detect?

Answer 5

• colorectal cancer

- recurrent diseases

Question 6

what does the tumour biomarker, oestrogen receptor detect?

Answer 6

Breast cancer

Question 7

What does the tumour biomarker, prostate specific antigen detect?

Answer 7

Prostate cancer

Question 8

What is the oncogene for colorectal cancer?

Answer 8

KRAS

Question 9

What is the oncogene for lung cancer?

Answer 9

EGFR

Question 10

What ist the oncogene for breast and gastric cancers?

Answer 10

Her2

Question 11

What is the oncogene for melanoma?

Answer 11

BRAF

Question 12

What is angiogenesis?

Answer 12

Blood vessel formation (favours cell growth)

Question 13

What is apoptosis?

Answer 13

Cell death

Question 14

What are the main 2 cellular appearance changes in cancer cells?

Answer 14

• cellular and nuclear pleomorphism (variation in shape and size)
• abnormal mitosis

Question 15

What is the purpose of angiogenesis in tumour formation?

Answer 15

• sustains tumour growth to provide tumour with oxygen and nutrients
• provides route for metastasis when tumour enters circulation

Question 16

What is tumour invasion?

Answer 16

Spread of tumour to surrounding/ adjacent tissues (local)

Question 17

What is tumour metastasis?

Answer 17

Spread of tumour to other body sites and locations

Question 18

What happens to connective tissue surrounding the tumour during invasion or metastasis?

Answer 18

• increased matrix degradation by proteolytic enzymes

- altered cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix adhesion

Question 19

What are the 4 main modes of spread of cancer?

Answer 19

1. local spread (invasion of surrounding tissues)
2. lymphatic spread
3. blood spread
4. trans-coelomic spread (tumours in thorax, pelvic and abdominal cavities covered by peritoneum)

Question 20

What is the order of tumour invasion process?

Answer 20

1. malignant tumour
2. invasion into connective tissue
3. invasion into lymph/blood vessels

Question 21

What are the most common sites of metastasis? (5)

Answer 21

• liver
• lung
• brain
• bone (axial skeleton)
• adrenal gland

Question 22

Where is metastasis uncommon? (4)

Answer 22

• heart
• spleen
• kidney
• skeletal muscle

Question 23

Where do breast tumours commonly metastasise to?

Answer 23

Bone

Question 24

Where do prostate tumours commonly metastasise to?

Answer 24

Bone

Question 25

Where do colorectal tumours commonly metastasise to?

Answer 25

Liver