PCOL 473 - EXAM 3 Questions And Verified Detailed
Answers 2024-2025
In the US, in the past 44 years, what percentage has the death rate due to breast cancer
DROPPED? - ANSWER 58%
Name the 4 general characteristics of a cancer cell - ANSWER 1. genomic instability
2. infinite life span (immortality)
3. loss of normal growth constraints
4. morphological changes (physical appearance abnormalities)
How many deaths worldwide are caused by cancer in general, annually? - ANSWER
Approx. 10 million
Since 1991, what has happened to cancer mortality rate in the US? - ANSWER Steady
DECLINE; approx. 2.5 million deaths averted
Epithelial layer vs. mesenchymal layer - ANSWER Epithelial = houses tissue-specific
(differentiated) cells that carry out tissue's intended function
ex.) hepatocytes in the liver
Mesenchyme = supporting structures (nerves, muscle, collagen, vessels, etc.)
TWO heritable properties of cancerous tumors: - ANSWER 1. proliferative capacity that
no longer responds to normal growth controls (can be either benign or malignant)
2. ability to invade and colonize surrounding/distant tissues (malignant only)
,Carcinoma in situ lesions typically originate in the mesenchyme. T/F? - ANSWER FALSE;
epithelial in origin
A MALIGNANT cancer of EPITHELIAL origin would be called. - ANSWER CARCINOMA
A MALIGNANT cancer of MESENCHYMAL origin would be called. - ANSWER SARCOMA
Sarcoma denotes a cancer of the epithelium. T/F? - ANSWER FALSE;
Sarcoma = mesenchymal
Carcinoma = epithelium
Which of the following are malignant tumors based on nomenclature?
1. Osteosarcoma
2. Pituitary Adenoma
3. Melanoma
4. Adenocarcinoma
5. Basal cell carcinoma - ANSWER 1. (mesenchyme)
4. (epithelial)
5. (epithelial)
When determining malignant or benign, look for SARCOMA or CARCINOMA only!!
Malignant epithelial tumors are called. - ANSWER Carcinomas
What are the two "branches" of the hematopoietic system? - ANSWER 1. Lymphoid
branch
2. Myeloid branch
, Leukemia denotes a cancer of WHAT branch in the hematopoietic system? - ANSWER
Myeloid
Lymphoma denotes a cancer of WHAT branchin the hematopoietic system? - ANSWER
Lymphoid
TNM tumor staging system (describe the meaning of each letter) - ANSWER T =
assessment of tumor SIZE (1-4)
N = assessment of any spread to lymph nodes (0-3)
M = presence of metastases (0-1; 0 = no metastases; 1 = presence)
Cancer is primarily a disease of WHOM? - ANSWER THE ELDERLY
It is estimated that at least 2-3 genetic mutations are sufficient to cause carcinogenesis.
T/F? - ANSWER FALSE; approximately 5-7 critical genetic mutations are needed
Carcinogenesis, or the origination/development of a tumor, is due to exogenous
(environmental) factors only.
T/F? - ANSWER FALSE; combination of both endogenous and exogenous factors = tumor
development
List the 3 steps/stages of carcinogenesis - ANSWER 1. Initiation (IRREVERSIBLE STEP;
DNA damage occurs). Ex.) BPDE, UV light.
Answers 2024-2025
In the US, in the past 44 years, what percentage has the death rate due to breast cancer
DROPPED? - ANSWER 58%
Name the 4 general characteristics of a cancer cell - ANSWER 1. genomic instability
2. infinite life span (immortality)
3. loss of normal growth constraints
4. morphological changes (physical appearance abnormalities)
How many deaths worldwide are caused by cancer in general, annually? - ANSWER
Approx. 10 million
Since 1991, what has happened to cancer mortality rate in the US? - ANSWER Steady
DECLINE; approx. 2.5 million deaths averted
Epithelial layer vs. mesenchymal layer - ANSWER Epithelial = houses tissue-specific
(differentiated) cells that carry out tissue's intended function
ex.) hepatocytes in the liver
Mesenchyme = supporting structures (nerves, muscle, collagen, vessels, etc.)
TWO heritable properties of cancerous tumors: - ANSWER 1. proliferative capacity that
no longer responds to normal growth controls (can be either benign or malignant)
2. ability to invade and colonize surrounding/distant tissues (malignant only)
,Carcinoma in situ lesions typically originate in the mesenchyme. T/F? - ANSWER FALSE;
epithelial in origin
A MALIGNANT cancer of EPITHELIAL origin would be called. - ANSWER CARCINOMA
A MALIGNANT cancer of MESENCHYMAL origin would be called. - ANSWER SARCOMA
Sarcoma denotes a cancer of the epithelium. T/F? - ANSWER FALSE;
Sarcoma = mesenchymal
Carcinoma = epithelium
Which of the following are malignant tumors based on nomenclature?
1. Osteosarcoma
2. Pituitary Adenoma
3. Melanoma
4. Adenocarcinoma
5. Basal cell carcinoma - ANSWER 1. (mesenchyme)
4. (epithelial)
5. (epithelial)
When determining malignant or benign, look for SARCOMA or CARCINOMA only!!
Malignant epithelial tumors are called. - ANSWER Carcinomas
What are the two "branches" of the hematopoietic system? - ANSWER 1. Lymphoid
branch
2. Myeloid branch
, Leukemia denotes a cancer of WHAT branch in the hematopoietic system? - ANSWER
Myeloid
Lymphoma denotes a cancer of WHAT branchin the hematopoietic system? - ANSWER
Lymphoid
TNM tumor staging system (describe the meaning of each letter) - ANSWER T =
assessment of tumor SIZE (1-4)
N = assessment of any spread to lymph nodes (0-3)
M = presence of metastases (0-1; 0 = no metastases; 1 = presence)
Cancer is primarily a disease of WHOM? - ANSWER THE ELDERLY
It is estimated that at least 2-3 genetic mutations are sufficient to cause carcinogenesis.
T/F? - ANSWER FALSE; approximately 5-7 critical genetic mutations are needed
Carcinogenesis, or the origination/development of a tumor, is due to exogenous
(environmental) factors only.
T/F? - ANSWER FALSE; combination of both endogenous and exogenous factors = tumor
development
List the 3 steps/stages of carcinogenesis - ANSWER 1. Initiation (IRREVERSIBLE STEP;
DNA damage occurs). Ex.) BPDE, UV light.
