Pathophysiology of Cancer

Question 1

Cell growth is uncoordinated and uncontrolled due to lack of normal controls over cell growth and division

Answer 1

cancer

Question 2

These cells are not growing unchecked. They still resemble the cells of the tissue from which they arose. The body has signaled the need for these cells

Answer 2

hyperplasia and hypertrophy

Question 3

Process of cell division. Development of new to replace the old or just to make more as needed

Answer 3

proliferation

Question 4

Cells become more specialized with each mitotic division

Answer 4

differentiation

Question 5

Programmed cell death. Necessary to maintain cellular homeostasis

Answer 5

apoptosis

Question 6

Phase of cell cycle where cellular contents excluding the chromosomes are duplicated

Answer 6

G1

Question 7

Phase of the cell cycle where each of the 46 chromosomes is duplicated by the cell

Answer 7

S

Question 8

Phase of the cell cycle where the cell “double checks” the duplicated chromosomes and makes repairs

Answer 8

G2

Question 9

Proteins that control the entry and progression of cells through the cell cycle. Bind to CDKs to activate them

Answer 9

cyclins

Question 10

Important in regulating cell cycle checkpoints during which mistakes in DNA replication are repaired

Answer 10

CKD inhibitors

Question 11

basis for development of new cancer treatment drugs

Answer 11

Manipulation of cyclins, CDKs and CKIs

Question 12

responsible for regenerating a specific line of cells

Answer 12

Progenitor/Parent cells

Question 13

less differentiated then progenitor cells and they can produce multiple types of progenitor cells

Answer 13

stem cells

Question 14

Noncancerous tumors. Well differentiated cells that resemble their tissue of origin

Answer 14

benign neoplasms

Question 15

Grow rapidly, invade and destroy nearby tissue. Poorly differentiated cells. More cells seen in mitosis due to rapid proliferation

Answer 15

malignant neoplasms

Question 16

Benign, contains finger like projections and grow on any surface

Answer 16

papilloma (wart)

Question 17

Loss of cell differentiation in cancerous tissue

Answer 17

anaplasia

Question 18

Cells and the nuclei are variable in size and shape

Answer 18

pleomorphic

Question 19

Explain the grading scale of the degree of anaplasia

Answer 19

Grading scale I-IV: Grade I well differentiated and Grade IV poorly differentiated with marked anaplasia

Question 20

Differences between the rate of growth for benign and malignant tumors

Answer 20

benign-progressive and slow. malignant- variable; the more undifferentiated the cells, the more rapid the rate of growth

Question 21

Type of tumor that is usually encapsulated

Answer 21

benign

Question 22

Type of tumor that Gains access to blood and lymph channels to metastasize to other areas of the body

Answer 22

malignant

Question 23

category of malignant neoplasm that start out in a specific location. Cells may detach from the tumor mass and invade surrounding tissue. Enter blood or lymph system and spread to distant sites

Answer 23

solid tumors

Question 24

catagory of malignant neoplasms that are Cells normally found in the blood and lymph. Disease is widespread at the onset

Answer 24

hematologic cancers

Question 25

Localized. The cells have not crossed the basement membrane. Usually can be removed surgically or locally treated with low recurrence rates

Answer 25

Carcinoma in situ

Question 26

A hallmark of cancer. High frequency of mutations in cancer cells may be due to a mutation phenotype, chromosomes are lost or gained, and intrachromosomal instability

Answer 26

genetic instability

Question 27

T/F Cancer cells can proliferate without signaling from growth factors and some cancers produce their own growth factors

Answer 27

true

Question 28

Term used to describe how cells often stop growing when they come in contact with each other. Cancer cells often ignore this rule

Answer 28

Cell density-dependent inhibition

Question 29

What is different about the cell cohesiveness and adhesion of cancer cells compared to normal cells?

Answer 29

Cancer cells don’t stick together as tightly as normal cells. Permits shedding of the tumor’s surface cells

Question 30

What is different about the lifespan of cancer cells compared to normal cells?

Answer 30

Cancer cells have an unlimited life span in contrast to normal cells and can divide an infinite amount of times

Question 31

clinically useful as markers to indicate the presence, recurrence or progressive growth of cancer

Answer 31

tumor antigens

Question 32

How does cancer spread by direct invasion and extension?

Answer 32

Seeding of cancer cells into body cavities. Spread through the blood or lymph pathways

Question 33

Occurs when a tumor sheds cells into body cavities. Can be a complication of surgical excision

Answer 33

Seeding

Question 34

initial lymph node into which the primary tumor drains

Answer 34

sentinel node

Question 35

The ratio of dividing cells to resting cells

Answer 35

growth fraction

Question 36

Length of time it takes for the total mass of cells in a tumor to double. May decrease over time if blood supply becomes limited

Answer 36

doubling time

Question 37

Has doubled 30 times. Contains more than 1 billion cells. Usually undetectable at smaller sizes

Answer 37

1 cm tumor mass

Question 38

Gene overactivity. Normal genes that become cancer causing genes if mutated. Newly created genes from mutations

Answer 38

Protooncogenes

Question 39

Gene underactivity creates an environment in which cancer is promoted. Protective against disruption of the DNA

Answer 39

Tumor suppressor genes

Question 40

Mutations in this gene have been associated with lung, breast, and colon cancer

Answer 40

TP53

Question 41

Results in the cell being vulnerable to cancer. Carcinogenic agents then produce irreversible changes in the genome of a previously normal cell

Answer 41

initiation

Question 42

Growth is triggered by growth factors and chemicals. Can be reversible if the promoter substance is removed

Answer 42

promotion

Question 43

When tumor cells acquire malignant phenotypic changes to promote invasion, metastasis and growth

Answer 43

carcinogenesis

Question 44

hypothesis suggests the immune system plays a key role in resistance against the development of tumors

Answer 44

immune surveillance hypothesis

Question 45

among the most potent of the procarcinogens. Produced from animal fat in the process of charcoal-broiling meats, Present in smoked meats and fish, and present in cigarette smoke – produced in the combustion of tobacco

Answer 45

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Question 46

Can alter retinoid metabolism which is a needed antioxidant. Enhances the carcinogenic effects of cigarette smoke

Answer 46

alcohol

Question 47

Name the four DNA viruses associated with human cancers

Answer 47

HPV, EBV (Epstein-Barr virus), HBV (Hepatitis B virus), HHV-8 (Human herpesvirus-8)

Question 48

What happens when you're infected with EBV with a normal or abnoraml immune system?

Answer 48

Normal immune function = infectious mononucleosis. Abnormal immune function or concurrent infection = sustained B-lymphocyte proliferation

Question 49

Only known retrovirus to cause cancer in humans. Endemic in parts of Japan. Transmission of infected T cells through sexual intercourse, blood or breast milk

Answer 49

Human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1)