oncology/cancer cells

Question 1

what is the cell cycle

Answer 1

The cell cycle is a sequence of growth stages that a cell moves through for mitosis and regeneration. In order for cells to undergo mitosis, the cell must go through stages G0, G1, S, G2, and M.

Question 2

Stage G0

Answer 2

The cell is at rest and is not actively engaged in the cell cycle.

Question 3

Stage G1

Answer 3

Cells enter the cell cycle and prepare for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication. Proto-oncogenes, genes that control cell replication, are activated.

Question 4

Stage S

Answer 4

Synthesis of structures occurs and the structures move to opposite poles in preparation for division into two separate cells. The 46 chromosomes reorganize as two separate sets of 23 chromosome pairs arranged at opposite poles. Two nuclear membranes develop around the two separate sets of 23 pairs.

Question 5

Stage G2

Answer 5

Cells prepare to divide

Question 6

Stage M

Answer 6

Mitosis is completed and 2 daughter cells are created

Question 7

4 steps in cancer cells disregard of cycle rules

Answer 7

Cancer cells are constantly moving through the cell cycle stages.

No Checkpoints
No DNA errors recognized
No apoptosis

Cancer cells disregard the growth inhibitors released by neighboring cells.

As the cancer cells proliferate, they accumulate on top, around, and beside each other, take over boundaries of organs, crowd out normal cells, and may even break free and travel to distant body sites

Question 8

what is differentiation

Answer 8

refers to the extent that neoplastic cells resemble normal cells both structurally and functionally.

Question 9

what is lack of differentiation called

Answer 9

anaplasia, a term that indicates total cellular disorganization, abnormal cell appearance, and cell dysfunction.

Question 10

How do cancer cells break Rules

Answer 10

Contact inhibition
++“I will respect your personal space”
–“Get out of my way!”

Cohesiveness
++“Stick with me & we’ll stay home”
–“I’m out of here!”

Communication
++“Ask the man next door to help!”
–Little-to-no communication

Proliferation control
\++“Our goal = zero population growth!”
Apoptosis (normal death)
--Sometimes immortal
Die unpredictably

Proliferation rate
++Predictable
–Unpredictable
Depends on differentiation

“Self” HLA antigens
++“Do no harm!”
–“Nonself” markers
Attack may be mustered

Question 11

Characteristics of benign tumors

Answer 11

Differentiation
=Well-differentiated; resembles tissue of origin

Rate of Growth
=Progressive, slow

Local Invasion
=Cohesive cells, well-demarcated tumor, often encapsulated making it movable

Metastasis
=None

Tumor Core
=No necrosis

Question 12

characteristics of malignant tumors

Answer 12

Poorly differentiated; does not resemble tissue of origin (anaplastic)

Erratic, slow to rapid

Invasive and infiltrating, surrounding normal tissue

Frequent metastasis

Can have necrotic core

Question 13

what susbstances make up tumor markers

Answer 13

hormones
enzymes
antigens
genes

Question 14

where can makers be found

Answer 14

blood
urine
csf
plasma membrane

Question 15

Grades of malignant tumors

Answer 15

Grade I: cells are well-differentiated
Grade II: cells are moderately differentiated
Grade III: poorly differentiated or anaplastic cells

Question 16

TNM system

Answer 16

T - tumor size, location, and involvement.
N - lymph node involvement.
M - metastasis to distant organs.

Question 17

TMN Classification system

Answer 17

T
(Tumor size & Location)
T0: No evidence of primary tumor
TIS: Tumor in situ
T1-4: Progressive increase in tumor size or involvement
—
N
(Spread to nodes)
N0: No spread to regional lymph nodes
N1: Spread to closest or small number of regional lymph nodes
N2: Spread to most distant or numerous regional lymph nodes

M
(Metastasis) 
M0: None
M1: Yes
---

Question 18

4 stage cancer class systme for patients

Answer 18

Stage 1: 
Confined to organ of origin
Stage 2: 
Locally invasive
Stage 3: 
Regional spread
Stage 4: 
Spread to distant sites

Question 19

4 phases of carcinogenesis

Answer 19

Initiation - alter of genes
Promotion – proliferating cells accumulate
Progression – further mutation
Metastasis – spread of cancer

Question 20

Tumor suppressor genes

Answer 20

Normally function to restrain cell growth

Can also become defective and lose the ability to inhibit cell growth and division, thus allowing cancer formation.

Question 21

p53 gene controls what

Answer 21

apoptosis

Question 22

proto-oncogenes

Answer 22

genes that stimulate and regulate a cell’s movement through the cell cycle, resulting in cellular growth and proliferation.

when mutated, proto-oncogenes become oncogenes that stimulate constant, unrelenting cellular proliferation and cell cycling.

Question 23

Carcinogens

Answer 23

Substances that cause development of cancer
Can alter cell DNA
Damage = cumulative!

Question 24

classifications of carcinogens

Answer 24

known

probable

possible

Question 25

what are promoters of cancer

Answer 25

Agents that promote development of cancer

Examples:
Diet
Alcoholic beverages
Tobacco
Hormones

Question 26

Viral induced cancer

Answer 26

MOA - always involve the activation of growth-promoting pathways or inhibition of tumor suppressors in infected cells.

Question 27

what do cancer cells secrete

Answer 27

vascular endothelial growth factor

Question 28

2 types of tumors

Answer 28

Primary Tumor
Location – site of origin

Secondary Tumor
Location – not site of origin

Question 29

what is seeding

Answer 29

tumor erosion and shedding into body cavities

Question 30

what is implantation

Answer 30

direct expansion into adjoining tissue

Question 31

2 primary routes of metastasis

Answer 31

lumphatic

vascular

Question 32

lyphatic spread and 3 possible scenarios

Answer 32

First stop is the lymph system!
Cells trapped in lymph nodes

Three possible scenarios
Death
Dormancy
Flourish/proliferate

Question 33

Vascular spread and first stop

Answer 33

Spread by Vascular Drainage
Penetrate local veins
And away it goes!

First stop??
Often liver

Why??
Recieves blood first
What happens?
Clumping – Trapping – Proliferating

Question 34

metastasis for lung caner

Answer 34

bone/brain

Question 35

metastasis for colon cancer

Answer 35

liver

Question 36

metastasis for breast cancer

Answer 36

bone/brain/liver/lung

Question 37

metastasis for prostate cancer

Answer 37

vertebrae

Question 38

metastasis for melanoma

Answer 38

brain