NURS 231
NURS 231 Unit 2 Pathophysiology Portage
Learning Study Guide Exam 2026
Define neoplasia and neoplasm:
Neoplasia is a disorder of altered cell differentiation and growth. Neoplasm is the
“new growth.”
Define proliferation and differentiation
Proliferation, a process of cell division, is an adaptive process for new cell
growth to replace old cells or when additional cells are needed. Differentiation is
the process in which cells become more specialized with each mitotic division.
What are the 3 main groups of cells that proliferate?
(1) well-differentiated neurons and cells of skeletal and cardiac muscles that
rarely divide and reproduce; (2) progenitor or parent cells that continue to divide
and reproduce, like blood, skin, and liver cells; (3) undifferentiated stem cells that
can enter the cell cycle and produce large number of progenitor cells if needed.
What are progenitor cells?
The more specialized cells are unable to divide, so these cell populations rely on
progenitor or parent cells of the same lineage that have not yet differentiated to
the extent that they have lost their ability to divide. They have enough
differentiation so the daughter cells are limited to the same cell line, but not quite
differentiated enough to prohibit active proliferation.
What are the benefits of the stem cell?
Stem cells remain dormant until they are needed. When needed, they can divide,
produce other stem cells, and carry out the functions of the differentiated cell.
Two important properties that stem cells possess are self-renewal and
potency. Self-renewal means the stem cell can undergo numerous mitotic
divisions while maintaining an undifferentiated state. Potency describes the
differentiation potential of stem cells.
What is a polyp?
A polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal surface, such as the intestine. A
polyp can be benign or malignant.
Explain metastasis and how it occurs:
The multi-step process of metastasis occurs as follows: a cancer cell must break
loose from the primary tumor, invade the surrounding extracellular matrix, gain
access to a blood vessel, survive its passage in the bloodstream, emerge at a
NURS 231
, NURS 231
favorable location, invade the surrounding tissue, begin to grow, and establish a
blood supply.
What are the two broad categories of malignant neoplasms?
Solid tumors and hematologic cancers
Explain what carcinoma in situ is?
Carcinoma in situ is a localized preinvasive lesion. These can typically be
surgically removed or treated, and recurrence is less likely.
What is seeding?
Seeding of cancer cells into body cavities occurs when a tumor sheds cells into
these spaces. Most often seeding occurs into the peritoneal cavity, as typically
seen with ovarian cancer.
What is important about the sentinel node?
The first evidence of disease may be found in the lymph nodes that drain the
tumor area. The sentinel node is the first lymph node to which the primary tumor
drains. This lymph node is examined for the presence of cancer cells.
What is angiogenesis?
When the tumor reaches the distant site, it must establish blood vessels and
growth factors to continue to grow. The development of new blood vessels within
the tumor is termed angiogenesis.
What are the 2 broad etiologic causes of cancer?
1. The genetic and molecular mechanisms that transform normal cells to cancer
cells.
2. The external factors such as age, heredity, and environmental agents.
What are the 2 cancer associated genes?
Protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes
What are the 3 genetic events that lead to oncogene formation and activation?
Point mutation, chromosomal translocation, and gene amplification
What the 6 molecular and cellular mechanisms that are known to facilitate the
development of cancer?
NURS 231
NURS 231 Unit 2 Pathophysiology Portage
Learning Study Guide Exam 2026
Define neoplasia and neoplasm:
Neoplasia is a disorder of altered cell differentiation and growth. Neoplasm is the
“new growth.”
Define proliferation and differentiation
Proliferation, a process of cell division, is an adaptive process for new cell
growth to replace old cells or when additional cells are needed. Differentiation is
the process in which cells become more specialized with each mitotic division.
What are the 3 main groups of cells that proliferate?
(1) well-differentiated neurons and cells of skeletal and cardiac muscles that
rarely divide and reproduce; (2) progenitor or parent cells that continue to divide
and reproduce, like blood, skin, and liver cells; (3) undifferentiated stem cells that
can enter the cell cycle and produce large number of progenitor cells if needed.
What are progenitor cells?
The more specialized cells are unable to divide, so these cell populations rely on
progenitor or parent cells of the same lineage that have not yet differentiated to
the extent that they have lost their ability to divide. They have enough
differentiation so the daughter cells are limited to the same cell line, but not quite
differentiated enough to prohibit active proliferation.
What are the benefits of the stem cell?
Stem cells remain dormant until they are needed. When needed, they can divide,
produce other stem cells, and carry out the functions of the differentiated cell.
Two important properties that stem cells possess are self-renewal and
potency. Self-renewal means the stem cell can undergo numerous mitotic
divisions while maintaining an undifferentiated state. Potency describes the
differentiation potential of stem cells.
What is a polyp?
A polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal surface, such as the intestine. A
polyp can be benign or malignant.
Explain metastasis and how it occurs:
The multi-step process of metastasis occurs as follows: a cancer cell must break
loose from the primary tumor, invade the surrounding extracellular matrix, gain
access to a blood vessel, survive its passage in the bloodstream, emerge at a
NURS 231
, NURS 231
favorable location, invade the surrounding tissue, begin to grow, and establish a
blood supply.
What are the two broad categories of malignant neoplasms?
Solid tumors and hematologic cancers
Explain what carcinoma in situ is?
Carcinoma in situ is a localized preinvasive lesion. These can typically be
surgically removed or treated, and recurrence is less likely.
What is seeding?
Seeding of cancer cells into body cavities occurs when a tumor sheds cells into
these spaces. Most often seeding occurs into the peritoneal cavity, as typically
seen with ovarian cancer.
What is important about the sentinel node?
The first evidence of disease may be found in the lymph nodes that drain the
tumor area. The sentinel node is the first lymph node to which the primary tumor
drains. This lymph node is examined for the presence of cancer cells.
What is angiogenesis?
When the tumor reaches the distant site, it must establish blood vessels and
growth factors to continue to grow. The development of new blood vessels within
the tumor is termed angiogenesis.
What are the 2 broad etiologic causes of cancer?
1. The genetic and molecular mechanisms that transform normal cells to cancer
cells.
2. The external factors such as age, heredity, and environmental agents.
What are the 2 cancer associated genes?
Protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes
What are the 3 genetic events that lead to oncogene formation and activation?
Point mutation, chromosomal translocation, and gene amplification
What the 6 molecular and cellular mechanisms that are known to facilitate the
development of cancer?
NURS 231
