Breast histology

Question 1

What are breasts composed of?

Answer 1

Lobes, composed of lobules
Lobules are composed of acini/alveoli containing ducts

Question 2

What are the function of luminal and basal cells in the breast?

Answer 2

Milk production and secretion

Question 3

What are ducts?

Answer 3

Thin tube to carry milk from the lobules to the nipple

Question 4

What are ducts lined with?

Answer 4

2 layers of cells
Inner cells
Outer myoepithelial cells

Question 5

What does the stroma do?

Answer 5

Provides structural support

Question 6

What does the stroma contain?

Answer 6

Blood vessels, lymphatics, adipose tissue
Composed of fibrous network of collagen, elastin and reticular fibres

Question 7

What is a mammogram?

Answer 7

X-ray through the breast

Question 8

What is grading?

Answer 8

Degree of differentiation

Question 9

What is staging?

Answer 9

The extent of tumour spread

Question 10

What is the most common type of breast cancer?

Answer 10

Ductal

Question 11

What does tamoxifen do?

Answer 11

competes with oestradoil for receptor

Question 12

When was tamoxifen licensed for use in breast cancer?

Answer 12

1973

Question 13

What is Her2?

Answer 13

A member of the EGFR receptor tyrosine kinase
HER2 is overexpressed in 15-30% of invasive breast cancer

Question 14

What are risk factors for breast cancer?

Answer 14

Age
Age of puberty
Oestrogen exposure
Radiation exposure
Geographic exposure
Diet
Obesity
Benign lesions

Question 15

What do BRAC1 and BRAC2 do?

Answer 15

Act as tumour suppressors regulating transcription and DNA repair

Question 16

What do BRAC1 and BRAC2 do in response to DNA damage?

Answer 16

They stop cell cycle progression and promote DNA damage repair