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PATH 370 – QUIZ 4 PRACTICE QUESTIONS Chapters 16, 17, 18, and 19 –
Comprehensive Pathophysiology Review
CHAPTER 16: CANCER BIOLOGY AND NEOPLASIA
1. Which of the following best describes a neoplasm?
A) Normal tissue growth
B) Abnormal, uncoordinated growth of cells that persists after
the stimulus is removed
C) A reversible cell adaptation
D) Programmed cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: A neoplasm is an abnormal mass of tissue with
uncoordinated growth that continues even after the initiating
stimulus is removed.
2. A benign tumor is characterized by:
A) Rapid growth and metastasis
B) Slow growth, encapsulated, and non-invasive
C) Poor differentiation
D) Tissue destruction
Answer: B
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Rationale: Benign tumors grow slowly, are usually
encapsulated, and do not invade or metastasize.
3. A malignant tumor is characterized by:
A) Slow growth and encapsulation
B) Invasive growth, metastasis, and poor differentiation
C) Well-differentiated cells only
D) No tissue destruction
Answer: B
Rationale: Malignant tumors invade surrounding tissue,
metastasize, and often show poor differentiation (anaplasia).
4. Metastasis is best defined as:
A) Local tumor growth
B) Spread of cancer cells to distant sites
C) Tumor encapsulation
D) Cell differentiation
Answer: B
Rationale: Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the
primary site to distant organs via blood or lymph.
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5. Which of the following is a characteristic of cancer cells?
A) Contact inhibition
B) Anchorage dependence
C) Loss of contact inhibition and limitless replication
D) Normal apoptosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Cancer cells lose contact inhibition, grow without
anchorage, and evade apoptosis.
6. Anaplasia refers to:
A) Well-differentiated cells
B) Loss of cellular differentiation (poorly differentiated cells)
C) Normal cell growth
D) Programmed cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Anaplasia is the loss of differentiation, a hallmark of
malignant cells.
7. Which of the following is a proto-oncogene?
A) A gene that promotes cell growth
B) A gene that suppresses tumors
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C) A gene that repairs DNA only
D) A gene that induces apoptosis only
Answer: A
Rationale: Proto-oncogenes are normal genes that promote cell
growth and division. When mutated, they become oncogenes.
8. Tumor suppressor genes function to:
A) Promote cell division
B) Inhibit cell division and promote apoptosis
C) Enhance metastasis
D) Stimulate angiogenesis only
Answer: B
Rationale: Tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p53, Rb) slow cell
division, repair DNA, and trigger apoptosis.
9. The p53 gene is best described as:
A) An oncogene
B) A tumor suppressor gene that regulates apoptosis and DNA
repair
C) A proto-oncogene
D) A growth factor receptor only
Answer: B
PATH 370 – QUIZ 4 PRACTICE QUESTIONS Chapters 16, 17, 18, and 19 –
Comprehensive Pathophysiology Review
CHAPTER 16: CANCER BIOLOGY AND NEOPLASIA
1. Which of the following best describes a neoplasm?
A) Normal tissue growth
B) Abnormal, uncoordinated growth of cells that persists after
the stimulus is removed
C) A reversible cell adaptation
D) Programmed cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: A neoplasm is an abnormal mass of tissue with
uncoordinated growth that continues even after the initiating
stimulus is removed.
2. A benign tumor is characterized by:
A) Rapid growth and metastasis
B) Slow growth, encapsulated, and non-invasive
C) Poor differentiation
D) Tissue destruction
Answer: B
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Rationale: Benign tumors grow slowly, are usually
encapsulated, and do not invade or metastasize.
3. A malignant tumor is characterized by:
A) Slow growth and encapsulation
B) Invasive growth, metastasis, and poor differentiation
C) Well-differentiated cells only
D) No tissue destruction
Answer: B
Rationale: Malignant tumors invade surrounding tissue,
metastasize, and often show poor differentiation (anaplasia).
4. Metastasis is best defined as:
A) Local tumor growth
B) Spread of cancer cells to distant sites
C) Tumor encapsulation
D) Cell differentiation
Answer: B
Rationale: Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the
primary site to distant organs via blood or lymph.
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5. Which of the following is a characteristic of cancer cells?
A) Contact inhibition
B) Anchorage dependence
C) Loss of contact inhibition and limitless replication
D) Normal apoptosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Cancer cells lose contact inhibition, grow without
anchorage, and evade apoptosis.
6. Anaplasia refers to:
A) Well-differentiated cells
B) Loss of cellular differentiation (poorly differentiated cells)
C) Normal cell growth
D) Programmed cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Anaplasia is the loss of differentiation, a hallmark of
malignant cells.
7. Which of the following is a proto-oncogene?
A) A gene that promotes cell growth
B) A gene that suppresses tumors
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C) A gene that repairs DNA only
D) A gene that induces apoptosis only
Answer: A
Rationale: Proto-oncogenes are normal genes that promote cell
growth and division. When mutated, they become oncogenes.
8. Tumor suppressor genes function to:
A) Promote cell division
B) Inhibit cell division and promote apoptosis
C) Enhance metastasis
D) Stimulate angiogenesis only
Answer: B
Rationale: Tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p53, Rb) slow cell
division, repair DNA, and trigger apoptosis.
9. The p53 gene is best described as:
A) An oncogene
B) A tumor suppressor gene that regulates apoptosis and DNA
repair
C) A proto-oncogene
D) A growth factor receptor only
Answer: B
