question

Neoplasia implies malignancy (T or F)

answer

F. Can be benign or malignant

question

The Molecular basis of neoplasia is

answer

A unifying concept that explains [what gives rise to] tumor cell behavior (benign or malignant) and the influence of 1. Geography (explained below - related to 2 and 3) 2. Culture 3. Environment (explained below) 4. Age (explained below) 5. Heredity (explained below) on causing the genetic damage that leads to cancer.

question

Summary of the Genetic hypothesis of neoplasia

answer

Acquisition of non-lethal genetic damage (mutations) over time that alter normal cell replication.

question

Describes A group of lesions that are based on accumulated genetic events which alter normal replication.

answer

Neoplasia

question

Different ways of genetic damage that can lead to neoplasia

answer

1) Chromosomal breakage 2) Chromosmal translocation (recall the Philadelphia chromsome in CM Leukemia) 3) Point mutations

question

Genetic damage like chromsomal breakage or point mutations can lead to ...................... which can then lead to neoplasia

answer

Absent gene products Abnormal gene products Disordered gene regulation

question

Genetic damage (chromsomal breakage, point mutations) can occur:

answer

1) Spontaneously (age) 2) Due to environmental effects 3) Familial (inherited)

question

Carniogenesis

answer

The initiation of cancer formation from genetic lesions that will underlie a specific form of cancer.

question

Genetic lesions confer an advantage in ............... in abnormal cells vs normal cells. What happens as a result?

answer

The lesions confer replication advantage in abnormal cells compared to normal cells. Because of this advantage, these abnormal cells will then undergo clonal expansion.

question

What is meant by cell cycle?

answer

Refers to the cycle during which the cell undergoes temporary expansion and then replication before it gets arrested again in interphase.

question

Cell cycle abnormalities are fundamental to all cancer growths (T or F)

answer

T.

question

Loss of normal cell-cycle control is central to malignant transformation (T or F).

answer

T.

question

Benign neoplasm involves loss of cell cycle control just like in malignant neoplasm. (T or F).

answer

T. Loss of cell-cycle control will lead to abnormal growth whether that growth becomes benign or malignant.

question

Cell proliferation involves what and then what?

answer

DNA replication first and then cell division to distribute the replicated DNA.

question

Cell proliferation Involves a very complex and carefully balanced array of regulatory factors (T or F). Elaborate

answer

T. There are regulatory factors in the cell cycle that allow for Initiation of proliferation when required and cause cessation of proliferation once need is met

question

Note cell proliferation is a very normal process and happens all the time in the body. (T or F) Elaborate.

answer

It is a very normal process. Only when the cell cycle regulation is not controlled that neoplasia can occur which can then lead to problems. It does happen all the time in the body. For example Regeneration (Proliferation) of colonic epithelium after damage due to infection or inflammatory disease or Regeneration of hepatic parenchyma after acute viral hepatitis

question

Steps in normal cell proliferation - Learning objective: Identify the key elements of signal transduction pathways that will lead to gene transcription and ultimately cell replication

answer

1) Damage in any of these steps can hinder replication.

question

Cell differentiation

answer

Cellular acquisition of specialized function For example: Keratin synthesis, lipid synthesis, etc.

question

Cell differentiation involves

answer

1) A Precursor stem cell that undergoes 2) Cell replication where specific: 3) Gene expression occurs that cause this cell to be differentiated from other cells.

question

Cell differentiation depends on (will occur after)

answer

Genetic expression occurs in the cell that leads to the differentiation of that cell from other cells.

question

Correlate cell differentiation to cancerous cells.

answer

Since cell differentiaton depends on gene expression, cancer cells can be weirdly differentiated (or may not develop any differentiation at all) because of the genetic damage that precedes carcinogenics.

question

When cells become neoplastic: 1. Cell differentiation is altered 2. Cell proliferation is uncontrolled 3. Specific mutations occur [choose the incorrect answer choice, if any]

answer

All of them are correct.

question

What are proto-oncogenes?

answer

These are NORMAL genes that code for proteins that help regulate cell growth. These important genes are called proto-oncogenes. A change in the DNA sequence of the proto-oncogene can give rise to an oncogene: cancer-causing gene.

question

What are the normal regulatory genes that are involved in normal cell proliferation, etc.

answer

1) Growth-promoting proto-oncogenes 2) Growth-inhibiting tumor suppressor genes 3) Genes that regulate programmed cell death (apoptosis) 4) Genes involved in DNA repair 5) Genes that encode any component along the pathways of cell proliferation

question

Compare Growth-promoting proto-oncogenes with Growth-inhibiting tumor suppressor genes in terms of the effect of mutation of only 1 allele in each gene

answer

1) Mutation of 1 allele for growth-promoting proto-oncogenes is dominant and will lead to problems since this allele is producing more growth-promoting proteins than normal 2) Mutation of 1 allele for growth-inhibiting tumore suppressor genes is recessive and will NOT lead to problems since the normal allele can code for enough proteins to suppress cell-growth. Need mutation in both alleles for problems to occur

question

Learning Objective: List the physiologic alterations on a cellular level that lead to a malignant PHENOTYPE (observable)

answer

1) Self-sufficiency in the absence of growth signals 2) Insensitivity to growth-inhibitory signals 3) Evasion of Apoptosis 4) Defects in DNA repair 5) Limitless replicative potential 6) Sustained angiogenesis 7) Ability to invade and metastasize

question

Which of these statements is/are false 1) Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process, not single event 2) Physiological alterations Differ between cancers, even in the same organ 3) A single mutation or change can fully transform a cell into a cancerous cell

answer

The third statement is false. No single mutation or change can fully transform a normal cell into a cancerous one. Most cancers involve several oncogenes and loss of two or more tumor suppressor genes in order for the cell to become cancerous.

question

Among the physiological alteration in cancer cells is defects in DNA repair. If those defects are inherited that can lead to ............... Explain that

answer

Genomic instability syndromes - DISORDERS that results from mutations (that are inherited) in genes that code for proteins that are involved in DNA repair. These disorders will make the person highly predisposed to cancer.

question

An example of inherited genetic defect is

answer

Xeroderma pigmentosum - inherited disorder due to mutation in the gene that codes for an enzyme involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER) for nucleotides that were damaged due to DNA after UV light exposure => Patients with this disorder have high rates of skin cancer.

question

As the normal cell ages and undergoes more normal DNA replication what happens to telomeres? What does that cause?

answer

telomeres (end of chromsomes) becomes shorter and shorter which causes senescence: loss of cell's ability to divide. This then induces apoptosis.

question

Senescence is

answer

arrest in the cell cycle - cell loses ability to undergo more rounds of replciation because the chromsomes have gotten so short.

question

Telomerase enzyme function

answer

prevents telomeres shortening to prevent replicative senescence and cell aging.

question

In ;90% human tumors, there is increased ............. (hint: enzyme) activity

answer

telomerase, that's why they're able to replicate limitlessly.

question

Discuss sustained angiotensis in cancer cells.

answer

1) No tumor will get bigger over a certain size unelss its able to feed itself. 2) So these tumors cells activate VEGf which can then induce blood vessels to develop and grow inside the tumor so that it can feed itself and get bigger and stronger This is very impormtant to know. Because there is debate on how can you shut off the blood supply to these tumors selectively so that we can only kill the tumor cells.

question

Factor whose release is upregulated to promote sustained angiogenesis for tumor cells

answer

VEGf (Vascular enedothelial growth factor) =; VEGF causes already-existing endothelial cells (that line blood vessels) to first break through existing blood vessels, then migrate towards the signal (i.e. VEGF), grow and replicate and form new blood vessels in the new location as directed by VEGF.

question

Different ways that cancerous cells are able to invade and metasize

answer

Acquiring of mutations that lead to 1) Altered cell adhesion molecules, e.g., mutation in E-cadherin molecules cause the cells to no longer adhere to another and are able to drift apart. 2) Development of Mutation that leads to turning on of Extracellular matrix degradation enzymes, e.g., collagenase, matrix metalloproteinases so cells can crawl through the tissues

question

Discuss how evasion of apoptosis occurs in tumor cells

answer

For example through Mutation in BCL-2 or p53 genes (discussed below)

question

BCL-2 gene

answer

= normally anti-apoptotic gene In tumor cells, there is alteration or over-expression of that gene that permits tumor cell survival

question

p53 gene

answer

= normally pro-apoptotic gene, In tumor cells, expression is altered/decreased which leadas to tumor cell survival

question

Discuss how Self-sufficiency in the absence of growth signals occurs in tumor cells

answer

Genetic mutations that allow for up-regulation of growth factors, growth factor receptors, signal transduction proteins, nuclear regulatory proteins and proteins involved in cell proliferation that render the tumor cell independent or not needing of external growth signals to proliferate.

question

It can take as long as decades for cancer to finally develop (T or F)

answer

T.

question

Why do we care about learning about Cancer?

answer

1) Diagnose which type of cancer 2) Treat through chemotherapy that is eventually getting less toxic and more effective. 3) Knowledge about certain kinds of cancer can help in their Prevention through educating people about and avoiding risk factors as well as regular screening to detect any potentially malignant tumors at an earlier stage.

question

Cancer Incidence: Define Incidence

answer

NEW cases of disease in a specific period in a specific population E.g., Number of people in US with new diagnoses of cancer per year

question

Cancer Prevalence: Define prevalence

answer

All cases of a disease (NEW AnD EXISTING) in a specific period in a specific population E.g., Number of people living with cancer in US per year

question

Incidence and prevalent can be the same (T or F)

answer

T. Incidence and prevalence can be similar because people might not live past one year so prevalence in this case will not increase in number. Recall prevalence is all NEW and EXISTING (people living with cancer) cases. If a specific type of cancer kill in a year (for e.g. year 2014). We're doing our data in 2015: the incidence will be new cases in 2015. Prevalence will be people living with cancer in 2014 AND 2015. But if they were dead in 2014 then in this case prevalence will be identical to incidence.

question

Important Cancer Epidemeology Statistics 1. Top two types of Cancer with highest rate of cancer incidence in men 2. Top two types of Cancer with highest rate of cancer incidence in women 3. Top two types of Cancer with highest rate of death in men 4. Top two types of Cancer with highest rate of death in women

answer

1. Prostate then Lungs (from smoking I assume) - see picture (note:all the others) 2. Breast then Lungs 3. Lungs and then Prostate 4. Lungs and then Breasts

question

Elements in the Environment that Contribute to Cancer

answer

1) Radiation: UV light, X rays 2) Chemicals/toxins: smoking, foods like hot dogs 3) Viral: e.g. viral lymphoma - see picture

question

Environmental exposure, Age, familal inheritance are all contributers to new cancer in Cancer Epidemology. Geography is not. (T or F)

answer

F. Environmental exposure, Geography, Age and Familial inheritance. Georgraphy: some cases are prevalent in certain parts of the world more than others like in Africa: she said something about higher rates of ovarian/breast cancer due to less access to healthcare.

question

Examples of Radiation

answer

UV light (sun) X rays (like in Chest x rays, atomic bombs)

question

Types of Cancers that can be induced from UV radiation

answer

UV radiation (sun exposure - skin) 1) Melanoma => most serious type of skin cancer => affects melanocytes 2) Squamous cell carcinoma => affects squamous cells: topmost layer of the epidermis 3) Basal cell carcinoma: affects basal cells: bottom-most layer of the epidermis

question

X rays can be produced from

answer

An atomic bomb Nuclear reactor accident (used to "mix nuclei" of atoms to generate isotopes that can be used for various purposes like medical imaging or electricity)

question

Types of Cancer caused by X rays

answer

1) Leukemia - explained below 2) Thyroid carcinoma (expalined below) 3) Breast carcinoma - explained below 4) Colonic carcinoma (just memorize) - third most common cause of death for men and women.

question

Explain how X ray causes thyroid cancer

answer

Iodine gets taken taken up by the thyroid so if you uptake radioactive iodine from X-rays, then you get a rise in the chance of developing thryoid cancer which is really rare otherwise.

question

X-rays and Leukemia

answer

Is the reason why pregnant women shouldn't be exposed to radiation because can induce leukemia in fetus or increases chances of child developing leukemia when he/she grows)

question

X-rays and Breast Cancer

answer

That's why mammograms (x-rays) are not done several times a year.

question

Give examples of Chemical Toxins that can lead to cancer

answer

1) Cigarette smoking (see below) 2) Asbestos [recall the movie Step Brothers] (see below) 3) B-napthylamine (see below) 4) Aflatoxin (see below) 5) Alcohol (see below)

question

Alfatoxins

answer

Toxins produced by certain fungi that are found on agricultural crops such as (corn) and peanuts: like Alcohol can cause Hepatocellular carcinoma, and esophogeal and gastric cancer.

question

Danger of Cigarette smoking

answer

1) Squamous cell carcinoma of lungs (obvious) also others: (pancreas, breast, bladder [see (2)], etc.) => all p's and b's 2) Contains 2-Naphthylamine which can cause bladder cancer => know this

question

Asbestos causes what

answer

step Brothers - [mesothelioma: malignant tumor of pleura] => what killed Will Ferrell in the movie - lol

question

Alcohol causes what cancers

answer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (obvious - recall Emad - doctor asked if he was Alcoholic) Also others (esophageal, gastric, etc.)

question

Alcohol causes the same types of cancers as

answer

Alfatoxins

question

Discuss the pathogenesis of virus in terms of how it can cause cancer as an environmental agent? Learning Objective: Describe the two mechanisms whereby infection may lead to the development of cancer, and give examples.

answer

1) Integration of viral DNA into human genome, causing genetic damage (altered expression of cell-cycle regulatory genes, damage of tumor suppressor genes, etc.) 2) Chronic infection (like with chronic hepatitis) leading to prolonged (extended) injury and repair, - this also causes and predisposes to genetic damage, and progression to neoplasia - even chronic wounds and burns can lead to that :( :( 3) Produces proteins that can specifically interfere with the cell-cycle :( :( :( (1 and 3) answer the learning objective

question

GERD: how can it cause cancer:

answer

Chronic GERD can cause chronic irritation of the mucosa lining the esophagus due to the acid reflux whic can lead to adenocarcinoma because of the prolonged inflammation and the prlonged injury and repair mechanism associated with this that can then predispose to genetic damage and cancer.

question

Examples of Viruses that Can Cause Cancer

answer

1. HPV Virus (Human papplioma (warts) virus 2. HBV Virus (hepatatis B virus) as well as hepatitis A and C 3. Epstein (Like Klein in Calvin Klein) Barr Virus

question

Related Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) to cancer

answer

Virus causes Acute and chronic infection of liver - Chronic infection predisposes to chronic inflammation whicn can then lead to hepatocellular carcinoma

question

Relate Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) to cancer

answer

Two types of viruses 1) Low risk types = papillomas (warts) 2) High risk subtypes = squamous cell carcinoma (cervix in women - recall HPV positive woman in Dr. Naguib's office), elsewhere)

question

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Cancer

answer

1) Infects B-cells, causes infectious mononucleosis (mono) - (kissing disease) 2) Common infection (;90% US population infected by adulthood) - they do a lot of kissing - lol 3) Related to some types of B-cell neoplasms like leukemias/lymphomas.

question

Virus that lives inside white blood cells and can cause problems when you're immunosuppressed like during an organ transplant

answer

Epstein Barr virus:

question

Virus that all of us are latently infected by it

answer

Epstein Barr Virus.

question

The way geography causes cancer is because lattitudal differences across the globe contribute to specific types of cancers. (T or F).

answer

F. Latitude has nothing to do with cancer. The reason why certain cancers are more prevalent in certain geographical areas is often reflection of the ENVIRONMENTAL or cultural practices in that region.

question

Learning Objective: Explain the influence of geography on the development of cancer - which regions (developing vs developed) is the prevalence of each of these cancers more prevlanet: 1) Cervical Cancer 2) Lung Cancer 3) Breast Cancer 4) Stomach Cancer

answer

1) More prevalence in certain types of cancer in all parts of the world. a) Cervical cancer more prevalent ind developing countries like Africa due to high rates of HIV which predisposes to higher chance of HPV infection. b) Lung cancer is more prevalent in developing countries than developed countries where we have anti-smoking campaigns in developed world but not in developing world, c) Breast cancer or prostate cancer: more prevalent in developed countries d) Stomach cancer: more prevalent in developing countries (possibly because of dirty water)

question

Most cancer mortality occurs between ages ........... why?

answer

55-75; By that time enough genetic damage has accumulated to cause cancer and malignancy.

question

Relate Age to Cancer

answer

As one ages there is accumulation of genetic damage due to accumulation of environmental damage and spontaneous errors during replication as well as imbalance between damage and repair

question

Learning Objective: Explain the molecular mechanisms behind an inherited predisposition to cancer,

answer

"One strike against the person" - Person inherits a defective allele in a gene that codes for proteins that are important cell cycle regulators in that particular tissue or organ. This markedly increases his/her chance of developing a certain kind of cancer - like Dr. Nabil and Father ????? ????: they're both blind because it runs in their family but Dr. Nabil didn't pass it to his children.

question

Learning Objective: Give examples of certain kinds of cancer that involve familial/inherited predisposition.

answer

1) Retinoblastoma (RB gene) - Dr. Nabil Soliman 2) Familial adenomatous polyposis of colon (APC - adenomatous polyposis of colon gene) - Lynch Syndrom 3) Colon carcinoma (HNPCC) 4) Breast carcinoma (BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes) 5) Xeroderma pigmentosum (from last lecture - inherited defect in the NER that codes for the enzyme that repairs DNA through nucleotide exciison repair after sunlight exposure - defect markedly increases chances of skin cancer)

question

Lynch Syndrome is synonymous with

answer

Familial adenomatous polyposis of colon - caused due to an inherited defect in a gene that is an important cell-cycle regulator in colorectal (colon) cells.

question

Familial .................................. poly.................... of the colon different from

answer

adenomatous; posis; colon carcinoma

question

Why aren't we all overrun in tumors?

answer

1) Genetic lesions: Usually repaired (many robust mechanisms) 2) If not repaired, lethal to cell (which is great), or apoptosis usually induced Hence problem occurs when there is a genetic damage that is NOT repaired, the cell survives it and then those lesions affect the cell-cycle regulation.

question

To lead to neoplasia, cell must ................. the lesion and the lesion must affect

answer

to lead to neoplasia, cell must survive the genetic lesion (doesn't undergo apoptosis) [that couldn't be repaired] AND the lesion must affect cell cycle regulation

question

Learning Objective: • Describe the mechanisms in the body that normally prevent the development of neoplasia

answer

1. Repair of damaged DNA 2. If couldn't be repaired, cell dies or is induced to undergo apoptosis for example through the white blood cells (phagocytes) of the immune system.

question

Learning Ojbective: Explain how molecular methods may be used in the diagnosis of cancer

answer

1) Visual examination of cells and tissue under the microscope (we can assign grading and sometimes observe the stage of cancer progression) 2) Detection of specific cancer proteins: we use special stains that will color code proteins that will be over-expressed in cancer - see below

question

Describe what visual examination of cells and tissues under the microscope has to offer with respect to cancer diagnosis

answer

a) We can observe Histology and cytology of the the cells and see if they're cancerous (have special features) b) Give Grading (of how differentiated the tumor cell is) and (some) staging sometimes for accurate more detailed diagnosis

question

How do we detect cancer proteins.

answer

1) Immunocytochemistry or Immunohistochemistry (detection of cancer protein by using antibodies) 2) Flow cytometry: see picture: you study physical and chemical properties of PROTEINS as they pass through a laser - see if they're cancerous 3) Tumor markers: substances produced by cancer cells -indicate that the cancer is still present; they're mostly proteins

question

Immunocytochemistry is the same thing as

answer

immunohistochemistry

question

Immunocytochemistry: Uses

answer

We use antibodies to bind to the protein of interest (the cancer protein). This help us in 1) Categorization of undifferentiated tumors like in leukemia or lymphomas - see 2) 2) Determination of origin of metastatic tumors (especially the undifferentiated ones) - because they will express "wierd" proteins that help us identify the origin of the cancer. 3) Detection of significant molecules that help us predict the cancer prognosis (overexpression of the growth factor receptor called HER-2 in breast cancer)

question

Cell surface antigens, cytoplasmic proteins, enzymes, hormones that are biochemical indicators of presence of tumor detected in plasma or body fluids. These can all be referred to as

answer

Tissue markers

question

It is sufficient to make cancer diagnosis based on detection of tumor markers. (T or F).

answer

F. Presence of tumor markers alone not sufficient for diagnosis (these markers are sometimes found in benign diseases) - Most not sensitive or specific enough for screening. They're better used to detect if the treatment went well, absence of tumor markers maens treatment went very well.

question

Can be used to detect how well the cancer treatment went, if it still in the blood or if it is really high then treatment might not be working.

answer

Tumor Markers

question

Function(s) of Tumor markers

answer

1. Help confirm diagnosis that are cancer cells present (has to be used with other methods though) 2. Help us know if the treatment is working well.

question

What is the importance understanding the molecular basis of cancer [stupid slide]

answer

1) Diagnosis of cancer at molecular level 2) Identify most appropriate therapy: Design chemotherapy that is effective and less toxic (like Gleevec, Herceptin, etc) 3) Prevention of cancer through avoidance of risk factors (discussed below) 4) Screening for early cancer (like in mammograms) and precursor lesions 5) Classification for prognosis (based on what we observe molecularly) and Evaluating for residual disease after treatment 6) Monitor for relapse even after removal of any residual cancerous cells.

question

What are the detection methods to detect genetic damage at chromosmal, subchromosmal, single mutation or gene expression level?

answer

1) Chromosomal level => Cytogenetics 2) Sub-chromosomal: translocations, large deletions/insertions, gene amplification => FISH method 3) Single mutations, small insertions, deletions => PCR 4) Patterns of gene expression => Array analysis (genetic vs proteomics) => explained below.

question

Molecular diagnosis: Arrays

answer

Since Neoplasia is a multi-step process, with multiple abnormalities, we move away from thinking of single genes toward patterns of gene expression, proteins - Don't need to know picture

question

Method to look at Profiles of Gene expression in a tumor vs normal cell

answer

Microarray

question

Method to look at patterns of protein expression in a tumor vs normal cell

answer

Proteomics

question

Name of monoclonal Ab we administer against HER2 (amplified gene that codes for growth factor receptor - amplification increases chance for breast cancer)

answer

Herceptin

question

Growth factor receptor in breast cancer

answer

HER2

question

Gene amplified in breast cancer, ovarian cancer

answer

HER2 gene

question

A drug that is tyrosine kinase inhibitor (used to treat CML)

answer

Gleevec - will inhibit the tyrosine kinase receptor that is specific to CML - great drug.

question

Gleevec is used to treat (hint 2 diseases)

answer

CML Gastrointestinal stromal tumors

question

How does molecular diagnostic tools help in cancer prevention?

answer

1) Earlier, more frequent screening can help identify different cancers like detection of early tumors. 2) Using these molecular tools can help us identify if person has the defective gene so we can advice person to avoidance factors that can precipiate carcinogenesis. For example: Xeroderma pigmentosum (avoidance of UV exposure) [relevant to #4] 3) Prophylactic surgery like in the case of Familial polyposis syndromes (colectomy) and Some hereditary breast carcinoma syndromes (mastectomy - Angelina Jolie) 4) Avoidance or removal of inciting agent (discussed below)

question

Molecular diagnostic tools that detect defective genes help us avoid or remove inciting agents - give examples of physical, chemical and viral carcinognes and how we can avoid or remove them

answer

1) Physical carcinogens a) Sun exposure (clothing, sunscreen) b) Radiation: radiation safety 2) Chemical carcinogens a)Lifestyle changes (quit cigarette smoking, alcohol) b) Occupational health and safety (limit exposures of workers) c) Environmental stewardship (appropriate disposal of carcinogens) 3) Viral agents HPV: safer sexual practices, vaccine HBV: avoidance of exposure, vaccine, treatment

question

Learning Objective: Define and describe the purpose of cancer screening.

answer

Identify premalignant lesions and/or early malignant lesions for treatment and/or removal prior to invasion and metastasis

question

Examples of Cancer Screening Methods

answer

1. Screening through Pap smear (cervical dysplasia and carcinoma) - The sample of cells from your cervix will be preserved and sent to a lab to be tested for the presence of abnormal cells. 2. Screening through Colonoscopy (colon adenoma and carcinoma) 3. Screening through Mammogram (breast carcinoma)

question

What is usually done with a Pap smear

answer

HPV testing - because you want to do full screening for cercvial cancer. HPV can cause cervical cancer so that's why we screen for that too.

question

Screen for cervical carcinoma

answer

PAP smear

question

How frequently is pap smear done

answer

Annually after initiation of sexual activity or after age 21

question

Screen for breast cancer

answer

Mammograms

question

Screen for colon cancer

answer

Colonoscopy

question

Premalignant tumors (colon cancer)

answer

Before development of colon cancer: you have a development of a little polyp that doesn't become malignant until 15 or 20 years later. Hence colonoscopy is important so that the doctor can check for the presence of polyps and pull them out as necessary.

question

How often is colonsocopy done?

answer

Every 3-5 years beginning at age 50

question

In screening for colon cancer, colonscopy can be accompannied by anotehr test. What is it?

answer

Fecal occult blood test: Test for occult (hidden, not readily discernible) blood in stool annually after age 50

question

Does cancer arise from a somatic or germline mutation?

answer

Cancer usually occurs due to mutations in somatic cells. However, less frequently it can also occur due to mutations due to an egg or sperm cell and in this case it can be inherited.

Week 7 Lectures 1 (Molecular basis of Neoplasia) and 2 (Cancer Epidemeology) – Flashcards

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