Chapter 7: Etiologic Factors continued

Question 1

True or false: Neoplastic cell transformations are common and are usually recognized and destroyed by the body’s cell-mediated and humoral immune systems.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

What causes the body’s cell-mediated and humoral immune systems to attack a mutant cell?

Answer 2

The mutant cell often produces cell proteins that the immune system recognizes as foreign.

Question 3

True or false: Formation of a tumor indicates a rare failure of the body’s immune defenses.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

What are four ways that cancer cells can overcome the body’s immune defenses?

Answer 4

1) Reduce MHC Class I molecules and NK receptor ligands
2) Stop making abnormal Ags
3) Produce immunosuppressants or turn on pathways that inhibit immune activation.
4) May interact with immune checkpoint pathways to suppress T cells

Question 5

What drug targets the ability of cancer cells to suppress T cells and prevent their immune destruction?

Answer 5

Keytruda (for lung and brain cancer)

Question 6

True or false: Most cancers have a strong heredity predisposition.

Answer 6

False

Question 7

Inheritance pattern in which an individual at risk has inherited a set of genes that
influences some hormonal- or enzyme-regulated
biochemical process in the body that slightly increases
susceptibility to a specific cancer.

Answer 7

Multifactorial inheritance pattern

Question 8

What percentage of breast cancers have no family hx of the disease?

Answer 8

80-90%

Question 9

What percentage of breast cancer is associated with mutations to BRCA1 or BRCA2?

Answer 9

5%

Question 10

True or false: There is a genetic predisposal for Philadelphia chromosome.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

By what two-step process do carcinogens cause cancer?

Answer 11

1) Initiation - chemical causes non-lethal mutation that can’t be repaired.
2) A promotor stimulates cell growth

Question 12

What role can hormones like estrogen, certain drugs, and inflammation play in tumerogenesis via chemical carcinogen?

Answer 12

They can act as promotors that stimulate cell growth

Question 13

What are the 8 hallmarks of cancer?

Answer 13

1) Self-sufficiency in growth signals
2) Insensitivity to growth suppressors.
3) Resisting apoptosis.
4) Enabling replicative immortality.
5) Invasion and metastasis
6) Reprogramming energy metabolism
7) Escaping immune destruction

Question 14

What is the acronym for warning signs of cancer?

Answer 14

CAUTION

Question 15

C

Answer 15

Change in bowel/bladder habits/function

Question 16

A

Answer 16

A sore that does not heal

Question 17

U

Answer 17

Unusual bleeding or discharge

Question 18

T

Answer 18

Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere

Question 19

I

Answer 19

Indigestion or difficulty swallowing

Question 20

O

Answer 20

Obvious change in a wart or mole

Question 21

N

Answer 21

Nagging cough or hoarseness