ANSWERS
The hypermetabolic state leading to cachexia in terminal cancer is thought to be because of - ANSWER-
tumor necrosis factor
Production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and other immune cytokines is thought to be important in
producing the hypermetabolic state leading to cachexia in cancer. Angiogenesis is the development of
new blood vessels to feed the tumor; it is not a cause of the hypermetabolic state leading to cachexia in
terminal cancer. Loss of ATP production and pain medications is not causes of the hypermetabolic state
leading to cachexia in terminal cancer.
Carbon monoxide injures cells by - ANSWER-reducing oxygen level on hemoglobin.
Carbon monoxide binds tightly to hemoglobin preventing the red blood cell from carrying adequate
oxygen, leading to hypoxic injury. Other chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride promote free radicals,
which injure cells and destroy cellular membranes. Crystallization of cellular organelles is caused by
hypothermia.
Malignant neoplasms of epithelial origin are known as - ANSWER-carcinomas
Carcinoma refers to malignant tumors of epithelial origin. Lymphoma refers to cancer of the lymphatic
tissue. Sarcoma refers to malignant tumors of mesenchymal (nerve, bone, muscle) origin. Adenoma is a
benign tumor of glandular tissue.
Breast cancer in women who have the breast cancer gene - ANSWER-occurs at an earlier age
The age of onset of inherited breast cancer is earlier than the onset of non-inherited forms and the
prevalence of bilateral breast cancer is higher. Breast cancer in women who have the breast cancer gene
is less common (only 5% to 10% of all cases) than non-inherited breast cancer and is more likely to be
bilateral. Response to treatment is not affected by whether the cancer gene is present.
In general, a cancer cell that is more tissue-specific differentiated is more likely to be aggressive. -
ANSWER-false
The degree of tissue-specific differentiation predicts malignant potential. A lack of differentiated features
in a cancer cell is called anaplasia, and a greater degree of anaplasia is correlated with a more
aggressively malignant tumor.
The cellular response indicative of injury because of faulty metabolism is - ANSWER-intracellular
accumulations.
Intracellular accumulations result from faulty metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, glycogen, and
proteins. Hydropic swelling results from malfunction of the sodium-potassium pump. Lactate production
results from anaerobic glycolytic pathway. Metaplasia occurs from persistent cell injury.
Cancer grading is based on - ANSWER-cell differentiation.
Grading refers to the histologic characterization of tumor cells and is basically a determination of the
degree of anaplasia (lack of differentiation). The other ANSWER options are associated with tumor
staging.
After bronchoscopy and histologic examination of a suspected tumor, your patient is diagnosed with
primary bronchial carcinoma. Thus, the tumor - ANSWER-is malignant.
, Bronchial carcinoma is a malignant cancer of the epithelial lining of the bronchi. Carcinoma refers to a
malignant tumor. Primary indicates that the cancer began in the lungs and did not metastasize from
another site. A staging procedure must be done before knowing if the lung cancer has spread.
Your patient is scheduled for a staging procedure. She wants to know what that means. The correct
response is which of the following? - ANSWER-It is a procedure for determining the extent of tumor
spread.
Staging describes the location and pattern of spread of a tumor. Staging does not involve biochemical
testing of tumor cells, or the histologic examination of tissues, which is done with cancer grading. CT,
MRI, and PET imaging techniques have allowed for noninvasive cancer detection.
The most common tumor-suppressor gene defect identified in cancer cells is - ANSWER-p53
The most common tumor-suppressor gene defect identified in cancer cells involves P53. More than half
of all types of human tumors lack functional P53, which inhibits cell cycling. Rb, DC, and APC are not the
most common tumor-suppressor gene defects identified in cancer cells.
A patient with metastatic lung cancer wants to know her chances for survival. Which response is correct?
- ANSWER-"Lung cancer has about a 15% survival rate."
Lung cancer has a 15% survival rate. Lung cancer is not always fatal, but is not highly curable at any stage
of diagnosis. The death rate from lung cancer has increased dramatically.
Your patient eats "lots of fat," leads a "stressful" life, and has smoked "about two packs a day for the last
40 years." Her chronic morning cough recently worsened, and she was diagnosed with a lung mass. The
most likely contributing factor for development of lung cancer in this patient is - ANSWER-cigarette
smoking.
The most likely contributing factor for the development of lung cancer is cigarette smoking. Tobacco
smoke contains hundreds of compounds, many of which have known genotoxicity and probably serve as
initiators. Tobacco smoke also contains promoters, which spur the mutant cells to proliferate. Although a
high-fat diet, urban pollutants, and a stressful lifestyle have been implicated in some types of cancer,
they are not the likely contributing factor in your patient's lung cancer.
Of the statements below, the accurate statement regarding nutrition and cellular health is - ANSWER-
deficient cellular uptake by one cell type may contribute to excess nutrient delivery to other cell types.
Deficient cellular uptake by one cell type may contribute to excess nutrient delivery to other cell types
such as in diabetes mellitus. Most of these essential nutrients must be obtained from external sources,
because the cell is unable to manufacture them. Obesity involves an excess of caloric intake. The BMI is a
measure for obesity, but does not indicate if a nutritional imbalance is present.
Metaplasia is - ANSWER-the replacement of one differentiated cell type with another.
Metaplasia is the replacement of one differentiated cell type with another secondary to persistent
damage. Dysplasia transforms cells to preneoplastic lesions, which may become malignant. Metaplasia is
reversible when the damage is stopped. Disorganization of cells into various sizes, shapes, and
arrangements occurs in dysplasia.
The primary effect of aging on all body systems is - ANSWER-decreased functional reserve.
All body systems show age-related changes that can be generally described as a decrease in functional
reserve; aging leads to inability to adapt to (internal and external) environmental changes. Not all effects