NUR 631 Neoplasia Exam 2026/2027 – Cancer &
Pathophysiology Actual Exam Questions and
Answers with Rationales
SECTION I — FUNDAMENTALS OF NEOPLASIA AND CANCER BIOLOGY
1. Which characteristic best distinguishes a malignant neoplasm from
a benign neoplasm?
A. Slow growth
B. Encapsulation
C. Ability to invade and metastasize
D. Well-differentiated cells
Answer: C
Rationale: Malignant tumors characteristically invade surrounding
tissues and may metastasize to distant sites. Benign tumors generally
remain localized.
2. The term neoplasia refers to:
A. Normal tissue regeneration
B. Abnormal, uncontrolled proliferation of cells
C. Acute inflammation
D. Programmed cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Neoplasia is abnormal new growth resulting from
dysregulated cellular proliferation and survival.
,3. Which term describes the degree to which tumor cells resemble
their tissue of origin?
A. Stage
B. Grade
C. Differentiation
D. Metastasis
Answer: C
Rationale: Differentiation describes how closely tumor cells resemble
normal cells of the tissue from which they originated.
4. A tumor composed of highly abnormal, poorly differentiated cells is
described as:
A. Benign
B. Anaplastic
C. Encapsulated
D. Hyperplastic
Answer: B
Rationale: Anaplasia refers to loss of cellular differentiation and is
commonly associated with aggressive malignancy.
5. Which process involves an increase in the number of cells in a tissue
while maintaining relatively normal cellular organization?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Anaplasia
,Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number. It may be
physiologic or pathologic.
6. Dysplasia is best defined as:
A. Irreversible cell death
B. Abnormal cellular growth and organization
C. Increased tissue size caused by larger cells
D. Conversion of one mature cell type into another
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia involves abnormal cellular maturation, size, shape,
and organization and can be associated with premalignant changes.
7. Which finding most strongly suggests invasive malignancy?
A. Presence of a capsule
B. Uniform cell morphology
C. Basement membrane penetration
D. Slow mitotic activity
Answer: C
Rationale: Invasion through the basement membrane into surrounding
tissue is a key characteristic of invasive carcinoma.
8. Metastasis refers to:
A. Local tissue inflammation
B. Spread of malignant cells to distant sites
, C. Transformation of normal cells into stem cells
D. Formation of a benign tumor
Answer: B
Rationale: Metastasis occurs when malignant cells disseminate from
the primary tumor and establish secondary tumors elsewhere.
9. Which route is most commonly associated with metastatic spread
of carcinomas?
A. Hematogenous spread
B. Lymphatic spread
C. Direct spread through cerebrospinal fluid only
D. Transplacental spread
Answer: B
Rationale: Carcinomas commonly spread initially through lymphatic
channels, although hematogenous and other routes can occur.
10. Sarcomas most commonly arise from:
A. Epithelial tissue
B. Mesenchymal/connective tissues
C. Nervous tissue only
D. Hematopoietic tissue
Answer: B
Rationale: Sarcomas are malignant tumors arising from mesenchymal
tissues such as bone, muscle, fat, cartilage, and connective tissue.
Pathophysiology Actual Exam Questions and
Answers with Rationales
SECTION I — FUNDAMENTALS OF NEOPLASIA AND CANCER BIOLOGY
1. Which characteristic best distinguishes a malignant neoplasm from
a benign neoplasm?
A. Slow growth
B. Encapsulation
C. Ability to invade and metastasize
D. Well-differentiated cells
Answer: C
Rationale: Malignant tumors characteristically invade surrounding
tissues and may metastasize to distant sites. Benign tumors generally
remain localized.
2. The term neoplasia refers to:
A. Normal tissue regeneration
B. Abnormal, uncontrolled proliferation of cells
C. Acute inflammation
D. Programmed cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Neoplasia is abnormal new growth resulting from
dysregulated cellular proliferation and survival.
,3. Which term describes the degree to which tumor cells resemble
their tissue of origin?
A. Stage
B. Grade
C. Differentiation
D. Metastasis
Answer: C
Rationale: Differentiation describes how closely tumor cells resemble
normal cells of the tissue from which they originated.
4. A tumor composed of highly abnormal, poorly differentiated cells is
described as:
A. Benign
B. Anaplastic
C. Encapsulated
D. Hyperplastic
Answer: B
Rationale: Anaplasia refers to loss of cellular differentiation and is
commonly associated with aggressive malignancy.
5. Which process involves an increase in the number of cells in a tissue
while maintaining relatively normal cellular organization?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Anaplasia
,Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number. It may be
physiologic or pathologic.
6. Dysplasia is best defined as:
A. Irreversible cell death
B. Abnormal cellular growth and organization
C. Increased tissue size caused by larger cells
D. Conversion of one mature cell type into another
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia involves abnormal cellular maturation, size, shape,
and organization and can be associated with premalignant changes.
7. Which finding most strongly suggests invasive malignancy?
A. Presence of a capsule
B. Uniform cell morphology
C. Basement membrane penetration
D. Slow mitotic activity
Answer: C
Rationale: Invasion through the basement membrane into surrounding
tissue is a key characteristic of invasive carcinoma.
8. Metastasis refers to:
A. Local tissue inflammation
B. Spread of malignant cells to distant sites
, C. Transformation of normal cells into stem cells
D. Formation of a benign tumor
Answer: B
Rationale: Metastasis occurs when malignant cells disseminate from
the primary tumor and establish secondary tumors elsewhere.
9. Which route is most commonly associated with metastatic spread
of carcinomas?
A. Hematogenous spread
B. Lymphatic spread
C. Direct spread through cerebrospinal fluid only
D. Transplacental spread
Answer: B
Rationale: Carcinomas commonly spread initially through lymphatic
channels, although hematogenous and other routes can occur.
10. Sarcomas most commonly arise from:
A. Epithelial tissue
B. Mesenchymal/connective tissues
C. Nervous tissue only
D. Hematopoietic tissue
Answer: B
Rationale: Sarcomas are malignant tumors arising from mesenchymal
tissues such as bone, muscle, fat, cartilage, and connective tissue.
