Questions from podcasts

Question 1

What do we mean by selective advantage?

Answer 1

Acquiring mutations which allow cells to out compete other cells and overcome environmental/growth constraints

Question 2

How are new cells produced?

Answer 2

Cell division from stem cells

Question 3

How do old cells die?

Answer 3

Apoptosis

Question 4

What does a tumour need to develop?

Answer 4

Growth constraints to be overcome
Features of limitless replication/immortality
Angiogenesis (for oxygen)
Ability to invade
Evade apoptosis

Question 5

Do tumours develop over short or long period of time?

Answer 5

Long

Question 6

In colorectal cancer are the precursor lesions similar or different to the normal tissue?

Answer 6

Very different

Question 7

What is the minimum number of mutations thought to be required for malignant conversion?

Answer 7

5-6

Question 8

Why would specific mutations be selected?

Answer 8

Because they give a selective growth advantage at that stage

Question 9

What is it called when a mutation is essential?

Answer 9

Oncogene addiction

Question 10

What is it called when a mutation is not essential?

Answer 10

Oncogene amnesia

Question 11

What does synthetic lethality mean?

Answer 11

Presence of a mutation causes dependence on another non-mutated gene

Question 12

Example of synthetic lethality

Answer 12

BRCA1 mutation and PARP inhibitors

Question 13

What is the role or PARP?

Answer 13

Important in repair of ssDNA breaks

Question 14

What does haematopoiesis mean?

Answer 14

Production of blood cells and platelets and occurs in the bone marrow

Question 15

Characteristics of haematopoietic stem cell

Answer 15

Versatility
Adaptable
Productive
Ability to retain its stemness

Question 16

What is flow cytometery?

Answer 16

A technique used for cell counting and sorting and biomarker detection. It is mainly used in haematology

Question 17

How often do haematopoietic stem cells divide?

Answer 17

Approx once a year

Question 18

Explain the TNM staging process

Answer 18

T - tumour size
N - node involvement
M - metastasis

Question 19

As tumour stage increases what happens to prognosis?

Answer 19

The prognosis worsens

Question 20

CEA is an example of a product secreted by what kind of tumour?

Answer 20

Colorectal cancer

Question 21

Name some examples of serological markers

Answer 21

CEA
CA125
AFP
CA19.9
PSA

Question 22

CA125 is an example of a product secreted by what kind of tumour?

Answer 22

Ovarian cancer

Question 23

CA19.9 is an example of a product secreted by what kind of tumour?

Answer 23

Pancreatic cancer

Question 24

AFP is an example of a product secreted by what kind of tumour?

Answer 24

Hepatocellular cancers

Question 25

PSA is an example of a product secreted by what kind of tumour?

Answer 25

Prostate cancers

Question 26

What does resection mean when talking about pathology?

Answer 26

Removing part or all of

Question 27

What effect does formalin have on tissue?

Answer 27

It causes cross-linking of DNA and proteins

Question 28

What information do we want from molecular analysis?

Answer 28

Predisposition (risk of developing cancer) Profile (gene variants present) Prognosis (informing outcome) Predictive (will they respond to therapy) Pharmacogenetic (how they will handle therapy germline) Pharmacotherapeutics (targetable genes)

Question 29

Problem with pyrosequencing

Answer 29

Doesnt handle repeat sequences very well

Question 30

Do we offer PND for inherited BRCA1/2 mutations?

Answer 30

Generally not because might not affect these individuals until they are 40-50

Question 31

What are phaeochromocytomas indicative of

Answer 31

Inherited predisposition syndrome VHL

Question 32

What is more time consuming sanger or NGS?

Answer 32

Sanger

Question 33

When are splice changes hard to detect?

Answer 33

When they are further into the intron

Question 34

What does Amsterdam criteria require before someone is tested for colorectal cancer

Answer 34

Three individuals of early onset colorectal cancer

Question 35

MLH1 (bound to DNA) is in a pair with

Answer 35

PMS2

Question 36

MHS2 (bound to DNA) is in a pair with

Answer 36

MSH6

Question 37

What does neoadjuvant mean?

Answer 37

Treatment given before definitive (curative) treatment

Question 38

What does adjuvant mean?

Answer 38

Treatment given after the curative treatment i.e. given to reduce the chances of recurrence

Question 39

What does concurrent treatment mean?

Answer 39

Given alongside definitive treatment

Question 40

What type of cancer can radiotherapy not be used for?

Answer 40

Deep seated tumours as it damages normal tissue

Question 41

What does staging of disease mean?

Answer 41

Mapping the spread, this defines the prognosis and directs management

Question 42

Different types of lung cancer?

Answer 42

Squamous cell carcinoma Small cell carcinoma Adenocarcinoma

Question 43

Does lung cancer generally present early or late?

Answer 43

Late - so poor prognosis

Question 44

Is ALK an oncogene or a tumour suppressor?

Answer 44

Oncogene

Question 45

What is the role of an oncogene?

Answer 45

Action positively promotes cell proliferation

Question 46

What is the role of a tumour suppressor gene?

Answer 46

Action inhibits cell proliferation

Question 47

Individuals who are born with mutation in a tumour suppressor gene are said to have been born with what?

Answer 47

"first hit" of the "two hit hypothesis"

Question 48

Name key features of familial cancer predisposition

Answer 48

Early onset tumours Multiple tumours in close relatives Multiple tumours within an individual Clusters of different tumours on a recognisable pattern

Question 49

What is Von Hippel-Lindau?

Answer 49

AD, pancreatic cysts/tumours. renal cancer, phaeochromocytoma